Vernon students honor township seniors

VERNON — For the 37th year, Vernon Seniors were honored during the Senior Citizen Appreciation Dinner Theater on March 20, at the Vernon Township High School. The event was sponsored and organized by the Executive School Community Association, School Community Associations, Vernon businesses, and District wide schools, with Charlene Vanvugt chairing the event for the fifth year.
During the event, the Vernon Township High School Theater Department presented the “9 to 5” musical, where around 285 seniors responded with a standing ovation. VTHS students also volunteered to serve a reception of fruit, cheese, crackers, and drinks throughout intermission.
Cedar Mountain SCA President Denise Clarke and “co-pilot” Nick Cerrato played “9 to 5” songs, golden oldies, and background dinner requests during dinner.
ESCA Secretary Pam McCann explained how all the schools were involved.
Besides the “9 to 5” show, she said, Walnut Ridge created the Welcome Banner; Cedar Mountain completed the cut-outs for the place-mats; the napkin rings were completed by the Rolling Hills art students; sixth graders assembled the place-mats and glued them together; and Lounsberry Hollow students rolled the utensils and put the napkin rings on.
In addition, she said, high school students served while seventh and eighth grade students helped as wait staff. Furthermore, she said, one of their SCA Presidents, Glen Meadow President Colleen Greenhalgh, had asked the sixth, seventh, and eighth grade theater students to volunteer because it was a theater supported event.
Polite eighth graders could be heard saying, “Sir, would you like some salad?”
VTHS senior volunteer Sam Dupont was dressed in a suit, complete with black bow tie.
Chefs carved turkey and ham in preparation for the buffet portion of the dinner.
VTHS Principal Pauline Anderson welcomed the seniors to the dinner and thanked the many volunteers who had worked for months, including students and parents.
Anderson said so many Glen Meadow students helped serve, which would make them more comfortable before coming to the high school next year.