As the year draws to a close, the Chelsea High School Marching Hornet Pride Band assembles one last time to reflect on the past marching season. This year, the banquet took place Monday March 13, 2017 at North Shelby Baptist Church.

In the beginning of the banquet, attendents were able to look back at this past season with a slide show assembled by senior and flute section leader Madison Smith full of some of the best memories from the season. After eating dinner made by the Theabolts, the band members’ favorite part of the night began: the awards.

After the band council and band section leaders were recognized and honored, each section was able to step forward and hand out two to three awards to members of their section. The awards of each section recognized the members who made band that much better.

Awards ranged from serious, such as the clarinet’s “The Most Dedicated” award given to Taylor Zinda, to hilarious, “The Bunch of Dumbs” award was given to the whole trumpet section. Every year, the Hornet Pride Band gives out the “Rookie of the Year Award”, an award given to the rookie that the band felt, as whole, should be honored. This year’s “Rookie of the Year” recipient was eighth grader Tanner Marlow.

After all the awards were finished, Mr. Lawley asked all the students to stand. Lawley then went on to ask for first years to sit down, then second years. This continued until only those who had been in the Chelsea High Hornet Pride Band for five years were standing. These students have put so much time, effort, blood, sweat, tears, and heart into the band for the past five years of their life.

Laurel Wheeler, clarinet section leader and a five year marcher, commented on the banquet saying that,”it was very sentimental to see all the hard work we have done come together. The pride and love in that room made me realize how much I am going to miss the Chelsea High Hornet Pride Marching Band when I graduate.”