HSE graduate creates fundraiser show

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Ryan Straut, a graduate of HSE High School, currently a senior at Purdue University and member of the Purdue Varsity Glee Club, has created a fundraiser to give back to HSE’s drama club and choir department. Funds will also support a scholarship for an HSE High School senior. With Straut is Mary Armstrong, sponsor for the drama club. (Submitted photo)
Ryan Straut, a graduate of HSE High School, currently a senior at Purdue University and member of the Purdue Varsity Glee Club, has created a fundraiser to give back to HSE’s drama club and choir department. Funds will also support a scholarship for an HSE High School senior. With Straut is Mary Armstrong, sponsor for the drama club. (Submitted photo)

By Nancy Edwards

Looking for a concert the whole family can enjoy can be a challenge if you like romantic ballads, your spouse prefers jazz, the kids will only listen to contemporary hits, while Grandpa favors barbershop quartets and Grandma adores gospel.

On April 24, the Purdue Varsity Glee Club will perform at HSE High School’s Leonard Auditorium, 1310 E.126th St., Fishers, at 7 p.m. as a fundraiser show. Several members of the glee club are local graduates: Ryan Straut, Trevor Peters, and Rob Mantock of HSE High School, and Patrick Montgomery, an FHS graduate.

Straut, a senior at Purdue University, created the fundraiser as a way to give back to HSE’s drama club and choir department. In addition, funds will support a scholarship for an HSE High School senior that has dedicated his/her participation in the drama club but will not be majoring in performing arts in college.

“The scholarship is to recognize, reward and encourage students and give back to those students given the opportunity to study whatever they want (in college),” Straut said.

Straut, who is majoring in computer graphics with a minor in forensic science, expressed his appreciation for the skills and qualities he developed in the drama club at high school, which he said has prepared him for college.

“In high school I learned time management skills while working around a busy schedule. I had rehearsals during the day and choir at night,” he said. “The skills I learned onstage revolved around being self-motivated, efficient and hardworking.”

These skills, he said, were taught by someone he and other members of HSE’s drama club knew as “ma”: Mary Armstrong, the sponsor and a teacher with more than 30 years of experience.

“She absolutely takes care of us and makes sure we’ve got what we need and makes sure we are motivated to do our best—off- or onstage. She is one of the most selfless people I know—she is what I inspire to be and her qualities are inspired for the scholarship,” Straut said.

Tickets for the show are $15 for adults and $10 for students. The public is also invited to attend dinner with the glee club at 5 p.m. Famous Dave’s restaurant will be catering. Seating is limited.

For tickets, questions, further information or to help sponsor the event, call Cindy and Harry Straut at 417-1850 or email [email protected].


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