Hononegah H.O.P.E. Foundation brought Touch of Nashville to Rockton

Records, music notes, and guitars were hung from the ceiling of the Rockton American Center. In another corner of the room, sat cardboard cutouts of Nashville stars, each welcoming guests to Hononegah High School’s Touch of Nashville on Saturday. April 18, marking the 24th year of this annual fundraising event. The room was filled with varied denim styles, eye-catching sequined pieces, with some adding a cowboy hat and boots. Jim and Tami Blevins were joined by Diane Ege, Bob Hobson, Claire Richie and Rich Harner. Visiting with likenesses of Nashville celebrities were Scotty Bryden, Christine Lawver, Shelly Paulson, Barbara Rothmaler, Todd and Laura Zimmerman. Andy Gannon kept the fun rolling as master of ceremonies. The event included a social hour and a buffet dinner served by the Hoffman House. As a special touch, keepsake guitar picks adorned the top of the cupcakes. Adding even more options were cash prize drawings, 50/50 raffles, and a booze wagon raffle with a value of $500 worth in each wagon. At the end of the night, four $500 winners and one $2,000 winner were drawn. Dancing commenced after the dinner to the musical sounds of Nauti Nauti. Tickets were sold to take a chance on winning a one of a kind piece of jewelry designed by The Gem Shop, Fine Jewelry Design Studio. This year’s piece was a 14K White Gold horseshoe diamond pendant with an 18” 14 K white gold wheat chain with a total retail value of $4,700. Manager Shelly Schweigart and her staff at the H.O.P.E Foundation have continued a long time partnership with 100 percent of the proceeds going to the Jan Modersohn Memorial Scholarship in the amount of $1,000. Jan Modersohn served as Rockton Village Clerk from 1991 to 2009 and was a strong advocate for local youth. Behind the event theme, the mission of the H.O.P.E Foundation remains the same as it did when it first started in 1997, to provide a means to enhance educational opportunities in Hononegah Community High School District 207. Paige and Specner Cushing are both HCHS Alumni. H.O.P.E Foundation Vice President Tom Polaski gave a warm welcome. He opened by saying, “Tonight is to award teacher grants. It is a great event here tonight as it is every year, it is always good to see everybody having a great time and spending money. It is a great high school, too.” Polaski shared details on a transformation on what used to be known as the old metal gym. “All new cases have been added to hold championship trophies, regional and sectional championship plaques, and photos with bios of all of Hononegah’s first team all staters.” “The H.O.P.E Foundation has made a monetary donation towards the purchase of all new furniture for what has now become a student commons area.” Polaski added, “The foundation has been approached by individuals who are new to the spring event inquiring how to donate to the silent auction each year.” He encouraged anyone who has anything they would like to donate to contact the foundation. H.O.P.E Foundation President Pat Hoey recognized the Hope Trustees. They helped to put this event on and to look at the teachers grant applications. Hoey said,“They are a very dedicated group of Trustees. In addition to President Hoey and Vice President Polaski, the Officers and Trustees who were recognized were: Brian Barnhardt, Treasurer; Hannah Schoenberg, Secretary; and Trustees Stephanie Johnson, Cathy Bellich, Ray Ferguson, Chuck Gilbert, Nicole Johnson, Bonnie Gundry, Rich Lewis, Teal Bainbridge, Deb Swanson, and Rachel Clark Erickson. Hoey asked to keep the people who were affected by the storms in your mind. Hoey gave special thanks to event organizer Kelly Rosik, the table sponsors, and everyone who donated items for the silent auction. Gannon recognized and gave thanks to the decorating committee. State Farm- Cathy Bellich sponsored the band. Siepert & Co., LLP was the silent auction sponsor. Nothing Bunt Cakes and Stillman Bank were the Sweets Sponsor. Decorations in the photo booth and balloon designs were done by Party Like a Rockstar Balloon Bar. Embroid This was a cup sponsor and the booze table sponsor was Grommes Millwork. Special thanks were given to volunteers- Kristie Clark, Kristi Hyde, Ella Johnson, Jennifer Osorio, Scott Robinson, Katie Tallman and Liz Gleason. Hononegah School Board member Bob Geddeis met up with volunteer Scott Robinson. This year’s silent auction brought in $13.000. Reid and Tiffany Mlsna came out in support of Hononegah Community High School's H.O.P.E Foundation. Village President John Peterson and family came out in support. Last year’s Touch of the Tropics added over $13,000 to the foundations programs and endowment fund. Past projects that the H.O.P.E Foundation has partnered on are: a heritage mural that graces the lobby of the Hononegah Performing Arts Center, created by mural artist Michael Stiffler. Featured is the life of Stephen Mack and Hononegah. This was a gift from the senior class of 2003. Hononegah used a tax-exempt status as intermediary that allowed the school to purchase the 40 acre tract of land on Hononegah Road across from Schnucks for future use. The second-semester tutoring program in 2002 was funded during a budget shortfall. Six teachers were paid and over 400 benefited. Students scholarships and teacher grants totaling $70,000 in the last 10 years helped with providing better tools for education. Through these grants, laptops for the physics department, a video scoreboard in the field house, new trophy cases, (while the former cases will be used for academics), digital training software for the PE Department, and power tools for the wood shop and construction lab have all been acquired. Polaski says, “The teacher grant applications are a separate program the foundation does every year. Teachers are required to go through a grant application process requesting funds from the foundation to purchase items they wish to implement in their respective departments.” The trustees evaluate the applications in April and make the final decision as to who is awarded grant funding. "I then informally notify the winners so they can order their proposed items.” “On May 5, 2026 grants will be awarded to teachers for programs totaling $5,000 or more at a faculty meeting,” Polaski said.