Night of Champions - October 17th
by Kyle McGowan, Superintendent
September 23, 2008
The Night of Champions was introduced as a new school event last year and was received with great success. The Crete Booster Club co-sponsored the activity and the premise was to recognize and celebrate the extraordinary accomplishments of Crete graduates throughout the years. The original plan was to review State championship level achievements taking place in increments of ten years. For example; last year’s event recognized the 1976-77 boys state track champions, the 1986-87 girls state golf champions, the 1956-57 state football champions, etc. The same standard is being used for this year’s event which is to take place during the half-time of the Crete vs. Beatrice football game.
The October 17, 2008 recognition will include the State football champions from the 1957-58 year and we also decided to include the football champions from the 1955-56 years. The Valedictorians and Salutatorians from the ten year time periods ending in eight will be a new addition to the event. Graduating at the top of one’s high school class is a difficult accomplishment and is certainly worthy of recognition. The Night of Champions will also include a celebration of two more extraordinary Crete graduates. Teri Steer-Cantwell graduated from high school in 1993 and has been inducted into the Nebraska High School Hall of Fame’s inaugural class. Natalie Nelsen-Schneider has just returned from Beijing after winning a gold medal in the Paralympics Women’s Wheelchair Basketball competition. Natalie graduated from Crete in 2001 after overcoming a malignant tumor of osteoscarcoma above her right knee.
It is important for communities and schools to remember the many accomplishments which were received over the years. Success in activities has always been a source of pride; however, the district would like to continue this theme by promoting other accomplishments by current and past students. Crete has many alumni who have had tremendous success during their school years as well as after graduation. Recognizing these accomplishments offers encouragement to current students so they too strive to achieve at a high level.
