OHS Band Celebrates at Annual Banquet
Members of the Pride of Olney High School Band, guests and family gathered on Saturday, May 3 for their 2025-2025 Band Banquet. The event was hosted at The Refuge and themed “RED”.
Special guests included Dr. Greg Roach (Superintendent of OISD) and Mrs. Nancy Roach, Dr. Matt Caffey (OHS Principal) and wife Lani Caffey (OHS faculty), Mrs. Summer Branum – OISD School Board, Mr. Kyle Hinson (OISD School Board) and wife Mrs. Julie Hinson, and Mrs. Hannah Stewart (OISD School Board) and husband Mr. Will Stewart (OHS faculty).
Student awards were presented by Dr. Rodney Bennett and Mrs. Marilyn Bennett. Awards given were Most Improved Woodwind Award – Rai Bond, Alyson Morales-Nieves; Most Improved Brass Award – JoJo Acuna, Katy Rosales, and Most Improved Percussion Award – Clara Neal, Haigen McAnally.
Outstanding student awards were given to Jaliyah Allen, Jason Bryan, and Jacob Murgia – Outstanding Freshman, Blaize DeVries, Maddox Johnson, Sophie Roach, and Ava Stewart – Outstanding Sophomore, Sawyer Edgington, Kenley Esparza, Adrian Gonzales, and Jeffry Flores – Outstanding Junior, and Samantha Sanborn, Lily Thames, Jolie Widner, and Mykevia Wilson – Outstanding Senior.
Senior Service Awards were presented to each OHS Band senior for their service to the group. These students included Cecil Ballentine, Krystal Hernandez, Joselyn Marquez, Donahvin Mullins, Clara Neal, Ben Norris, Samantha Sanborn, Anay Santibanez, Lily Thames, Madison Ward, Jolie Widner, and Mykevia Wilson.
Gallery of Excellence awards were made to seniors Samantha Sanborn, Lily Thames, and Jolie Widner. The Gallery is a Hall of Fame for OHS Band students that accumulate points by participating in district, region, area, and state events in UIL, ATSSB, and other entities. Photographs will be permanently displayed in the OHS Band Hall. Lily Thames, 2025 inductee, holds the record for the highest number of points (840), surpassing 2020 inductee Arianna Esparza.
Mrs. Bennett presented Women Band Directors International All-Star Band certificates to the following students: Kenley Esparza and Ava Stewart (flute), Lily Thames and Jolie Widner (oboe), Maddox Johnson (bassoon), Samantha Sanborn (clarinet), Mykevia Wilson (contrabass clarinet), Sawyer Edgington (alto sax), Adrian Gonzalez (bari sax), Sophie Roach (French horn), and Ricco Sandoval (tuba).
Mrs. Bennett also presented Outstanding Band Parent Award certificates to Mrs. Rebecca Esparza (Band Booster Secretary), Mr. Chris and Mrs. Heather Garcia, Mrs. Cristina Gonzalez (Band Booster Treasurer), and Mrs. Jessica King (Band Booster President).
Student Choice Awards (formerly “Funny Awards”) were presented to students by emcees Ben Norris, Samantha Sanborn, Lily Thames, and Mykevia Wilson. Nominated and voted upon by OHS Band students, the results are as follows. “Best Marcher”– Maddox Johnson, “Cutest Couple” – Clara Neal and Ricco Sandoval, “Squeakiest Clarinet” – Ariel Herrera (2nd consecutive year), “Glover (Spit in Your Horn Award)” – JoJo Acuna, “Loudest Player” – James Garcia, “Most Likely to Chew Gum” – Rai Bond, “Most Likely to Be Tardy” – Lily Thames, “Most Beautiful” – Dr. Rodney Bennett, “Most Handsome” – Dr. Rodney Bennett, “Most Talkative” – The Trumpet Section, “Lazyboy Award” – Cecil Ballentine, “Most Likely to Play Out of Tune” – (seven-way tie) – Jamarcus Collins-Welty, Sawyer Edgington, Krystal Hernandez, Ariel Herrera, Alyson Morales-Nieves, Ben Norris, Logan Phillips, “Most Likely to Injure Themselves” – Foster Sullivan, “All-Timer’s (Most Forgetful) Award – (3-way tie) – Nate Elmore, Alyson Morales-Nieves, and Ben Norris, “Most Likely to /bust a Gut Laughing” – Madison Ward, “Hardest Worker”Lily Thames, “Biggest Band Nerd” (tie) – Maddox Johnson and Lily Thames, “Most Helpful to Others” – Sawyer Edgington, “Most Likely to Practice” (tie) – Maddox Johnson and Lily Thames, “Most Likely to Miss the Bus” (tie) – Nate Elmore and Lily Thames, “Most Dependable” – Sawyer Edgington, “Most Likely to Be /caught with Their Cell Phone Out” (tie) – Jamarcus Collins-Welty and Ariel Herrera, “Most Number of Pieces of Pizza Eaten” (tie) – Aubree Englishbee and Ricco Sandoval, “Most Likely to Break a Reed” (3way tie) – Sawyer Edgington, Ariel Herrera, and Mykevia Wilson, and “Most Likely to Be Caught Doing Something Good” – Sawyer Edgington.
Highlight of the banquet was the crowning of OHS Band Beau and Sweetheart. Nominees are seniors which included Cecil Ballentine, Donahvin Mullins, and Ben Norris. Donahvin Mullins was named 2025 Band Beau and received a crown, boutonnière, and sash.
Sweetheart candidates were originally the nine senior girls, including Krystal Hernandez, Joselyn Marquez, Clara Neal, Samantha Sanborn, Anay Santibanez, Lily Thames, Madison Ward, Jolie Widner, and Mykevia Wilson. Five finalists were presented a long-stemmed red rose, including Joselyn Marquez, Clara Neal, Samantha Sanborn, Lily Thames, and Jolie Widner. Jolie Widner was announced as the 2025 Band Sweetheart. Band Beau Donahvin Mullins presented Jolie with a lap bouquet and Mrs. Bennett presented Jolie with a sash and tiara.