Being in the community is something that’s important to my family, so the idea of joining the Pacer Spirit Committee was just a natural decision for us.
Claire, my sister, was the one who told us about the Pacer Spirit Committee. Claire said how the committee’s goal was to start a new tradition for all of Delaware City Schools. They planned on calling the new tradition “Pacer Fest,” a community pep rally that’s goal is to highlight all the middle school and high school sports teams.
There would be three pep rallies each year: one in fall, winter and spring, it allowed each sports season to get their chance to encourage the town to come out and watch them compete.
Something that I felt was so unique is how the committee focused on making the pep rally accustomed to that current sports season. In the meetings, we discussed how we could add different activities and crowd-engaging games to showcase that sports season. For the Winter Pacer Fest, we had a hot chocolate stand, and basketball games going on before that the girls team was having. Involving the winter athletes and winter traditions add to the experience that the committee strives to create.
The creativity in coming up with all the different aspects of each fest was one way which I was able to help out through the committee.
The changes give the crowd a pleasant surprise each Pacer Fest; ones that would keep people intrigued and engaged in each rally.
“[The] hope is to keep the evening fresh with new activities during the pep rally,” said Shauna Hershberger, the head of the Pacer Spirit Committee who is also a teacher at Dempsey Middle School. “We will possibly add in and rotate booths for the pre-event segment of the evening.”
In the committee, we have different people from around Delaware helping out.
“We have teachers, moms, and students involved, and everyone is so amazing,” Hershberger said. “We all come with a different skill set, which is how we have been so successful.”
All the committee members, including myself, each have something different that can play into the success of the event. Mine was being in charge of helping to run the meeting, voicing my ideas and then taking on extra tasks outside the meeting like helping to promote the event and talking to administration about what we need. Every Pacer Fest looks different for my role, but it all plays an essential part in helping the event come together.
People have roles such as putting together raffles, communicating with coaches, creating games, planning the script and so much more. All of these tasks help to create a place for the committee to really utilize the aspects of the different sports.
The relay races and games are just some of the activities held during the event.
A favorite game at the recent winter Pacer Fest was when we had the middle and high school basketball players play a game of knockout. The crowd was engaged and brought their excitement. Fans were smiling, laughing and cheering on the participants, who were younger kids with the highschool athletes. Fans could see the pride that the younger kids took in getting to work with the highschoolers through the relay race.
There is a lot for me to love about being a part of the Pacer Spirit Committee. Helping to bring the community together and playing an active role in that has to be the most rewarding experience, for both myself and other members of the committee.
“I joined the committee to feel more a part of the Delaware community,” Hershberger said. “This has been such a great way to feel more involved and connected.
Don’t miss out on the next Pacer Fest, held March 4 in the Hayes auditorium to celebrate the athletes in spring seasons.
