In its third annual year, the Kewpie Cup was not organized by veteran upperclassmen, but by three freshmen.
This auditioned talent show was held on Friday, April 5 in the Hickman Auditorium. It was organized by Piper Stevens (9), Jocelyn Moody (9) and Micheal Landsperger (9).
These freshmen took on the task as a part of their Advanced Seminar and Investigations (ASI) class.
This class allows students to select a topic to create a project around. At Hickman, this class is taught by EEE teacher Caysea Dachroeden.
“I give students the opportunity to do almost whatever they want under the guidelines of project management. So the students are managing the project [themselves],” Dachroeden explained.
ASI student Ojima Adejo (10) appreciated how the class allows her to pursue something she’s passionate about while supporting her to follow through with her goals.
“[You] have the environment of EEE, and have an allocated budget to pursue [the project]. You’re able to present benchmarks throughout the semester,” Ojima explained.
This year, Dachroeden asked around to see who was interested in organizing the Kewpie Cup. Freshman organizer Jocelyn Moody said that she and her co-organizers were originally not in charge.
“There was actually a few other people who were going to take it before us, but then they quit. So we ended up taking [it] instead,” Jocelyn said.
Organizing an event such as this was no small feat, especially when the organizers are in their first year at Hickman.
Organizer Piper Stevens talked about the difficulty of navigating freshman year while embarking on this “super ambitious” project.
“I don’t know anyone the way other people do. And so I’m building my own relationships with people while having to organize this entire thing,” Piper said.
Fellow organizer Micheal Landsperger agreed that it’s a big task, but appreciated the support they’ve had along the way.
“If I was doing it completely by myself, it would be terrifying. But, I’m friends with the people who I’m doing it with and our teacher is incredible,” Micheal said. “I’m a bit worried about being on stage and everything, but I’m proud that we’ve gotten this far.”
Dachroeden had immense trust in these three freshmen, allowing them to work largely independently of her.
“They have literally set it up from beginning to end…I’m here today because I’m the teacher on record and they can’t be here [without me],” Dachroeden said.
Despite the challenges and triumphs of the process, the Kewpie Cup came to mean more than just a project for these students.
Piper appreciated the new experiences she had because of the Kewpie Cup.
“It’s definitely pushing a lot of people outside of their comfort zone and making them do things that they’re super nervous about…it certainly threw me into Hickman and I’ve had to connect to people and meet new people and try a lot of new things,” Piper said.
Micheal wanted the Kewpie Cup to be an opportunity for people to showcase talents they may not have another outlet to show off. They also hoped that this will help people become more confident in themselves.
“I hope people are inspired to start doing things themselves and to maybe feel a little less shaky about doing [on] a stage, in front of other people,” Micheal said.
This year, the Kewpie Cup was raising funds for a fellow ASI project: an education drive for Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State, Nigeria.
This was Ojima Adejo’s project, and she felt deeply connected to this school.
“[The village] is my dad’s ancestral home. So we have our village house there…My dad’s sister used to be a teacher at that school,” Ojima explained.
This school needed help due to the recent violence that hit the region.
“There were 10 girls kidnapped [from the school], and the school had originally 300 students, and now it’s actually down to 15,” Ojima said.
Ojima was raising money to buy them uniforms, shoes and school materials.
The Kewpie Cup organizers heard one of Ojima’s semester check-ins and were inspired to raise money for her cause.
“I’m so grateful I can’t say it in words…I almost cried when they told me,” Ojima said.
As a result of the Kewpie Cup, over $1,000 was raised for the Local Government Education Area Primary School.
Because of the new experiences and worthy cause of the Kewpie Cup this year, Jocelyn Moody said she “had the best time ever” organizing this event.
Her advice: “Take opportunities when [they’re] given to you.”
