SCHOOL NEWS NIGHT-IN-BLUE
Left: Sr. Helen Jean Novy, HM picks up her spaghetti dinner at the Night-in-Blue drive through. Middle: Magnificat students prepare to-go meals for drive-through patrons. Right: Thousands of grand prize tickets await the drawing in the custom Night-in-Blue drum.
63rd Annual Night-in-Blue Makes History with Record-Setting Community Support
I
n the spring of 2020, when planning commenced for the 63rd Night-in-Blue Bazaar & Pasta Dinner, the committee—made up of members of the Fathers’ Club, 17 student leaders, and Magnificat staff—knew it would be unlike any Night-in-Blue that came before it. What they did not anticipate was that it would end up being the most successful event in the history of the annual homecoming fundraiser. Although we could not gather in person, the Magnificat Community came together in remarkable ways for Magnificat students with record-breaking support through sponsorships, ads, and ticket sales. Due to the ever-changing realities of COVID-19, the event took many different shapes throughout the planning process. When ticket sales for the grand prize drawing began in September, the plan was to host a drive-through pasta dinner on Saturday followed by a trip to the Aut-O-Rama Twin Drive-In on Sunday for the grand prize drawing and a film screening. As the weekend grew closer and COVID-19 cases in the state of Ohio began to rise, the final plan was hatched. We would move forward with the first Night-in-Blue drive-through pasta dinner followed by a virtual grand prize drawing — both on Saturday evening. A school-wide game of virtual bingo kicked off the
12
festivities on Friday, with members of the Fathers’ Club calling numbers over the PA as students (both inperson and via livestream) marked their bingo cards. Then, on November 14, over the span of three hours, students and parent volunteers served 895 spaghetti dinners to drivethrough supporters who were entertained by Magnificat’s own parking lot DJ, Fathers’ Club member Brian Walsh, as they waited for their orders. Later that evening, over 175 students, alumnae, and friends tuned into the school’s firstever Virtual Grand Prize Drawing where they heard remarks from President Moira Clark ’77, Fathers’ Club leadership, and 2020 Night-in-Blue Grand Marshall Sr. Helen Jean Novy, HM. "While NIB looked totally different in 2020, I loved helping plan and work at the event. It was great to see the Magnificat community come together during such a unique time to support NIB like they always do!” remarked Night-in-Blue committee member Brenna King ’23. Fellow student leader Lauren Shearer ’22 said, “Being on the NIB committee was not only fun but also very fulfilling. With this year’s constantly evolving situation, we learned to adapt quickly, communicate effectively, and most importantly, never take anything for granted.”
MAGNIFICAT MAGAZINE | A MAGAZINE FOR ALUMNAE AND FRIENDS OF MAGNIFICAT HIGH SCHOOL | WINTER 2021
