May 17, 2022
By: Bill Conger
The D.C.H.S. Band took center stage Saturday night (May 7) at the high school, but this time it wasn’t to perform. It was the annual awards banquet to recognize students who gave it their all in performance and leadership over the past school year.
Director Don Whitt handed the top award, the John Phillip Sousa Award, to Senior Savanna Warren. She also received a trophy for Leadership Low Brass and Senior Low Brass Player. Director awards for outstanding leadership were presented to Owen Warren and Serenity Burgess. The Outstanding Star trophy for Color guard and marching went to Eli Martin. Trumpet Leadership in marching went to Mallory Hamilton while Star Performer awards were handed to soloist tenor sax BJ Mosley and Ayden Jones, trumpet, Elizabeth Mosley, soloist, and Olivia Diego, clarinet, soloist guitar/ percussion Karson Smallwood, and Cadence Orcutt.
Isaac Sasser received the Best Rookie Keyboard, Marimba, Xylophonist; Best Rookie Tuba went to Nathan Hall, Best Rookie Percussionist Karly Vickers. The following awards were also presented: Clarinet leader in marching Gage Cote, Hidden talent soloist, Merissa Brown, Trumpet Leadership, Jaden Wildes, Trumpet Leadership, Ayden Jones, Color guard, Serenity Burgess, leader in marching, Flute leadership in marching, Amy Nokes, Trumpet leadership in marching, Elizabeth Mosely, and Percussion leader in marching, Gavin Conger.
The Fighting Tiger Spirit award for Best Attitude was presented to Ashton McClain, the Most Improved 7th grade trumpet, Katie Inglis, Future Leader Award, and Elizabeth Mosely. Serenity Patterson and Kyle Holmbeck received Leadership Percussion awards. Leadership performer awards went to Amy Nokes, B.J. Mosley, Gavin Conger. Drum Major Serenity Burgess, Alexis Stanley, and Owen Warren.
Other award recipients named were Outstanding Sabre rookie, Yo Yo Avalos, Leadership Section Leader, Gage Cote, Rookie Color Guard of the Year, Crissy White, Outstanding Rifle Rookie, Ollie Wagner, Most Improved Color Guard, Jamie Bradshaw, Outstanding Choreography Award, Ashton McClain, Most Improved 8th Grade Player, Alto Saxophone, Cameron Ramsey, and Hannah Swoape, Golden Shoe award for the band camp marching competition, Senior Color Guard, Hannah Finan, and Senior Low Brass Player, Skylar Southward.