Grand Piano Music Spectacular
August 28, 2004
Entertainment, Reunion and Mission

Dear AHS alumni and friends,

The song begins, "How do I say thanks...?". That is exactly how I feel as my heart is overflowing with gratitude for your wonderful gift of the grand piano for our auditorium. Since the goal was met before last night, we were able to have a celebration instead of a fund raiser. It was a beautiful time of praise and thankfulness.

God is the giver of every good and perfect gift, so we thank Him first of all. But He uses people, and we are, oh so grateful, to all of you who contributed to this project. Our students will be enjoying this special instrument for years to come. You made an investment into the lives of our students, and from experience, many of us can attest to the fact that an investment in the lives of young people just doesn't ever stop giving back.

Thank you again for your generous gift to us.

Mrs. Prewitt and Ackerman High School choral students

 Highlights of
A Grand Piano Music Spectacular
August 28, 2004

Ackerman Alumni Celebrate Success
 of Grand Piano Project

The Ackerman High School Reunion Group met Saturday night, August 28, to celebrate the success of their project to purchase a 6' 7" Yamaha conservatory grand piano for the Ty A. Cobb Auditorium. A concert featuring mostly Ackerman alumni had been planned as a fund raiser to cap the effort by the group to raise the money before September 1, 2004. Thanks to the generosity of former students, local businesses, a local church, ministerial association and civic club, the full amount of $19,000 had been raised and it was not even necessary to take up a collection. More than 130 contributions poured in to AHS from 19 states to make the purchase price of the piano.

The piano was officially presented by AHS Reunion President Kenneth R. Smith and other officers of the Alumni Group to Ackerman High School Principal, Ronda Huffman, and Choctaw County Superintendent of Education Dr. Arlene Amos. The piano was given in honor of Mrs. Webb (Madeline) Wood, AHS Choral Director from 1955-67. Also recognized for outstanding contributions to this project were Rene Aurell, Alton Blanton, and Rev. Jerry Lawson.

Featured entertainment for the program included Jan Irving Bruening and Patrick Perkins; Ackerman Baptist gospel quartet, Sammie Wood and Rene Aurell, Cherry Sims, and AHS Choral Director Ricki Prewitt. The highlight of the evening was a performance by an Ackerman Reunion choir, directed by Madeline Wood, of a hymn medley and a very moving rendition of Andrae Crouch's "My Tribute."

Any funds that come in above the cost of the piano will be used to purchase a cover and a stage dolly for the grand piano.

The Ackerman Reunion Group would like to express our appreciation to the Choctaw Chronicle and Choctaw Plaindealer for their tremendous showing of support toward our grand piano project.