Crestview High band signing day celebrates $160K+ in scholarships

Assistant Crestview High School band director Charlie Anderson, band Director Jody Dunn, Principal Dexter Day and assistant principal Ella Shaw join the Big Red Machine's scholarship recipients on signing day. From left are Dylan Dean, Kyle Valerius, Elizabeth Dunn, Amelia Herman, Tiffany Berkley, Scott Forn, Julia Schwieg, Ben Piaget, Scarlett Zimmerman, Katie Saueressig, Luke Shetler and Kelvin Williamson.

CRESTVIEW — Twelve Crestview High School band members have accepted college scholarships.

“This is a great day and a great opportunity for these kids,” Principal Dexter Day said during the signing ceremony in the band room.

Band Director Jody Dunn modeled the school’s second annual band signing day after similar events held for athletes. After last year’s successful event, neighboring schools, including Milton and Tate, followed suit.

Day praised Dunn for his dedication to his students, whose membership in the Big Red Machine is significantly greater than other campus organizations.

“I was a football coach and I had 70 kids on the line,” Day said. “He has 280.”

Day said being offered band scholarships to such colleges as Auburn, Northwest Florida State College, Florida State, University of Florida, Southern Miss and the University of West Florida is the next step in the students’ musical careers.

“What they did in music all their lives has set them up for life,” Day said.

These Crestview High School band students were awarded scholarships:

●Dylan Dean, Florida State University*

●Kyle Valerius, Southern Mississippi, $11,370

●Elizabeth Dunn, Southern Mississippi, $12,000

●Amelia Herman, University of Mobile, $31,700

●Tiffany Berkley, University of Florida, $17,000

●Scott Forn, Florida State University, $24,000

●Julia Schwieg, University of West Florida, $18,000

●Ben Piaget, Southern Mississippi, $16,570

●Scarlett Zimmerman, University of Florida, $14,000

●Katie Saueressig, Florida State University, $14,000

●Luke Shetler, University of West Florida, $16,000

●Kelvin Williamson, Northwest Florida State College, $3,000

* Scholarship total not yet available

CONGRATULATIONS!

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview High band signing day celebrates $160K+ in scholarships