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On the evening of May 30, 140 eighth-grade students celebrated their upcoming promotion to high school in the highly anticipated annual Eighth Grade Dance at Floyd Dryden Middle School.

This year's theme, not revealed to the students until the night of the event, was Mardi Gras, and the gala featured a king-sized buffet, a 25-foot long parade-style float, hand-decorated masks, and many other traditional decorations and customs.

The dance was organized and run by a committee of nearly 40 parents of eighth-grade students, including chairperson Cheri Schaufler and coordinator Denise Guizio.

Students populated the dance floor throughout the evening, and most remained until the end of the event at 10:30 p.m. Near the end of the dance, all 140 students piled onto the float for a group photo. CDs containing individual and group float pictures and candids from the dance are still available for $3 to the participating students.

The organizers of the dance would like to take the time to recognize the following committee members and sponsors for their tremendous efforts in putting on this event:

Volunteers: Chairperson Cheri Schaufler, coordinator Denise Guizio, Karen Bonnett-Petersen, Judy Cummins, Barbara Ferguson, Linda Hunsick, Carol and Dan Johnson, Sandy Johnston, Becky and Kent Kay, Kim Kolvig, Susan and Paul Krogstad, Mary and Jack Manning, Ryan Mesdag, Joyce Niven, Brenda Pagano, Ellen and Corey Pavitt, Sara and John Raster, Victoria and Dave Scharen, Lawrence Schaufler, Mike Smith, Scott Smith and Christine Wray.

Corporate donors and supporters: Alaska Dames and Gents, Anne Lind Creative Memories, Bear Body Works, Duck Creek Market, Dr. Frank Mesdag, Gross-Alaska Cinemas , Odom Corp. (Coca-Cola), T&S Welding, Thunder Mountain High School, Tlingit Haida Regional Housing Authority, Tyler Rentals, Valley Lumber and Valley Paint.

Thanks also to K-Magic for a great music playlist that kept the kids on the dancefloor all evening! We also would like to thank Clare St. Gabriel for the wonderful photography.

A big thank you as well to Floyd Dryden staff Nancy Eiler, Sally Millay, Candy Held, Tom Milliron, Jackie Kookesh and all the janitorial staff for their support of this memorable celebration.

Lawrence Schaufler

Juneau