By Mark Ambrogi
A Zionsville Community High School tradition heats up this month.
A group of 10 seniors are preparing their talents for the Mr. Zionsville competition, which will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 22 at the Zionsville Performing Arts Center.
Mr. Zionsville is decided by a group of outside judges based on opening dance and skit performance and overall crowd reaction, Mr. Zionsville coordinator Jonathan Dehner said.
The other awards given are Mr. Talent (based on the talent section) and Mr. Spirit (picked by the contestants themselves).
The 12 contestants perform a four-minute talent skits. The number of contestants vary each year, Dehner said. Mr. Zionsville.
“After three to four skits (by the contestants) both male and female seniors perform skit comedy,” Dehner said. “Most of the skits poke good humor at their favorite teachers and administrators or act out district idiosyncrasies of Zionsville as a whole.”
A set of female masters of ceremonies introduce the contestants.
Dehner said Mr. Zionsville has been running at the school since 1987. Ryan Streeter was named the first Mr. Zionsville.
“The first Mr. Zionsville started to as a fun way to show students that they don’t need drugs or alcohol to have fun,” Dehner said. “It also shows the senior class what it means to work together for the betterment of the group.”
Dehner said it isn¹t always easy to get 40 to 50 seniors show up for practice and work together.
“It is a great team building activity,” Dehner said.
Dehner, the junior class sponsor, said the event serves as a major fundraiser for the prom, raising more than $10,000 each year. Dehner, a visual arts teacher, said the fundraiser serves as the seniors’ gift to the prom.
