In order to produce a memorable Night of the Stars, student leadership must put in many hours of planning and preparation.
For this annual event, akin to a winter formal, each class produces a video to be presented at the dinner, with an awards ceremony following.
The leadership team and classes have discussed ideas over the past couple of months to begin the process. The NOTS formal event is set to take place on Feb. 19 at the same venue as last year, The Grand 1401, located at 1401 Fulton Street in downtown.
On Dec. 7, student leadership finalized the event’s theme: the Roaring ’20s. Leadership adviser Jane Gillespie feels that the theme allows for many decorating options.
“We had really great ideas and it was a very tough decision, but this year’s theme is going to be the Roaring ’20s,” Gillespie said. “It’s going to be a great night with swing and jazz music, old-fashioned drinks and relaxed, classy attire.”
Student body president Justin Wilson, ’11, believes the theme to be an innovative attraction for NOTS.
“I think a lot of people are going to have fun, because it’s different from the past years,” Wilson said. “Leadership will give 100 percent to make it successful. I think it’s a good way for the seniors to go out with something fun.”
Classes plan films
While student leadership carries out preparations for the event, the classes have begun to plan their movies. The seniors have 45 minutes for their movie; the juniors, 30; the sophomores, 25; and the freshmen, 15. The films will be presented on the evening of NOTS.
On Dec. 2, the first class meetings were held to narrow down the films that each class might want to portray. Freshman Mark Bennett, who will direct his class’s film, said he feels nervous about creating a NOTS movie for the first time.
“I’m a little nervous, because our three plans are not really doable in 15 minutes,” Bennett said. “We have to do it in around two months, which is really difficult. It’s a little terrifying. But I have confidence in everyone that we will do OK.”
In contrast, the director for the senior film, Zach Camden, said he is impartial about his class’s film options but feels confident in the seniors’ abilities.
“At this point, I don’t really have an opinion, because nothing is for sure,” Camden said. “I think that whatever movie we choose will be good, because we have a lot of good people to work with.”
Anticipating the event
While many students look forward to NOTS, freshman Annaleah Madison plans to skip the event.
“I don’t want to go because it takes too much time to go shopping and get ready,” Madison said. “There’s no one I really want to go with except friends. Also, I don’t want to pay for it.”
On Dec. 13, an optional class meeting will be held to finalize plans for movies.
For more information, contact a student leadership member or e-mail Gillespie. For past coverage of NOTS, read the Feb. 23 article, Seniors dominate NOTS awards.
