Parents, community members, and other friends of Lookout Mountain School gathered at the end of March to celebrate LMS at the 12th annual Night Out for Lookout auction. Planning for the event started back in the fall of 2022, and the committee’s hard work came together for a fun and successful evening, raising vital funds to benefit LMS in many significant ways!
This year’s event chairs, Morgan Everett and Kakhi Wakefield, were supported by an incredible team of parent volunteers, including co-chairs Mary Clare Holm and Beth Wingfield and committee members Lauren Boehm, Jessi Cook, Laura Cummings, Maggie Estes, Charlotte Gregorie, Meredith Kinney, Ashley Kinzler, Kelsey Megison, Lesslie Meier, Shelby Wamp, and Tara Weise. Morgan and Kakhi wanted to highlight and celebrate LMS’ recent designation as an Exemplary High Performing National Blue Ribbon School, so they changed the event’s attire, encouraging guests to wear their “best blue jeans to celebrate our blue ribbon school.” This decision was a big hit, as guests happily embraced the festive but less-formal attire!
Another change to this year’s celebration came due to the current construction happening at the Lookout Mountain Club’s Fairyland location, where the event typically occurs. The event moved to the LMC’s golf club location, so capacity was therefore limited unlike in years past, which quickly made it the hottest ticket in town, and the response was so enthusiastic that ticket sales even had to close early!
Student art beautifully decorated the venue. Classroom murals from each grade were displayed in the large windows of the LMC’s dining room: the fifth grade’s nativity sets; fourth grade’s chess sets; and third grade’s Easter trees adorned the tables. Adorable ceramic bud vases made by first- and second-graders were filled with fresh flowers and clustered throughout the rooms. The 250-plus guests in attendance were treated to another play on the Blue Ribbon theme as they enjoyed a “blue plate special” meal including delicious fried chicken, tomato pie, squash casserole, green beans, and assorted desserts. DJ Paul Daniel got the crowd dancing, and Krystals were even passed around late night for those still out on the dance floor!
The auction included a wide variety of items generously donated by parents and community members as well as local schools and businesses. Silent auction items were hotly contested through the auction’s virtual app, as bidders in person and from home could vie for their treasures throughout the evening. Several “super silent” experiences such as rounds of golf at exclusive venues or a party at Grandview raised a significant amount, and returning favorite items like the fifth grade nativity sets and an impressive collection of art pieces, including Margaret Gaither’s original painting of Lookout Mountain School, were highly sought after and had bidders checking their phones often to make sure they had not been outbid! Of course, the excitement of the live auction was a highlight of the night, and as auctioneer, LMS parent Rich Boschi did an amazing job helming the action for the enthusiastic bidding wars. Grandparent Rob Huffaker was auctioneer for the special project paddle raise, generating significant funds that will go towards renovating and improving the LMS front office to reflect our Blue Ribbon values.
The dedication and hard work of the NOFL auction chairs and committee all came together marvelously for this event, which has become one of the most fun and important fundraisers on the mountain. Lookout Mountain School benefits greatly from the generosity of those behind the scenes at NOFL as well as the generosity of all the parents, grandparents, and community members who are so ready and willing to support the school. In recent years, NOFL funds have allowed for significant improvements throughout LMS, including seating refurbishments and audio-visual upgrades in the auditorium, new Chromebooks for students, new technology in the classrooms, and updates to the Literacy Lab. The school is so grateful for this incredible support. Congratulations to everyone involved for the success of this event!
by Meredith Brown
This year’s event chairs, Morgan Everett and Kakhi Wakefield, were supported by an incredible team of parent volunteers, including co-chairs Mary Clare Holm and Beth Wingfield and committee members Lauren Boehm, Jessi Cook, Laura Cummings, Maggie Estes, Charlotte Gregorie, Meredith Kinney, Ashley Kinzler, Kelsey Megison, Lesslie Meier, Shelby Wamp, and Tara Weise. Morgan and Kakhi wanted to highlight and celebrate LMS’ recent designation as an Exemplary High Performing National Blue Ribbon School, so they changed the event’s attire, encouraging guests to wear their “best blue jeans to celebrate our blue ribbon school.” This decision was a big hit, as guests happily embraced the festive but less-formal attire!
Another change to this year’s celebration came due to the current construction happening at the Lookout Mountain Club’s Fairyland location, where the event typically occurs. The event moved to the LMC’s golf club location, so capacity was therefore limited unlike in years past, which quickly made it the hottest ticket in town, and the response was so enthusiastic that ticket sales even had to close early!
Student art beautifully decorated the venue. Classroom murals from each grade were displayed in the large windows of the LMC’s dining room: the fifth grade’s nativity sets; fourth grade’s chess sets; and third grade’s Easter trees adorned the tables. Adorable ceramic bud vases made by first- and second-graders were filled with fresh flowers and clustered throughout the rooms. The 250-plus guests in attendance were treated to another play on the Blue Ribbon theme as they enjoyed a “blue plate special” meal including delicious fried chicken, tomato pie, squash casserole, green beans, and assorted desserts. DJ Paul Daniel got the crowd dancing, and Krystals were even passed around late night for those still out on the dance floor!
The auction included a wide variety of items generously donated by parents and community members as well as local schools and businesses. Silent auction items were hotly contested through the auction’s virtual app, as bidders in person and from home could vie for their treasures throughout the evening. Several “super silent” experiences such as rounds of golf at exclusive venues or a party at Grandview raised a significant amount, and returning favorite items like the fifth grade nativity sets and an impressive collection of art pieces, including Margaret Gaither’s original painting of Lookout Mountain School, were highly sought after and had bidders checking their phones often to make sure they had not been outbid! Of course, the excitement of the live auction was a highlight of the night, and as auctioneer, LMS parent Rich Boschi did an amazing job helming the action for the enthusiastic bidding wars. Grandparent Rob Huffaker was auctioneer for the special project paddle raise, generating significant funds that will go towards renovating and improving the LMS front office to reflect our Blue Ribbon values.
The dedication and hard work of the NOFL auction chairs and committee all came together marvelously for this event, which has become one of the most fun and important fundraisers on the mountain. Lookout Mountain School benefits greatly from the generosity of those behind the scenes at NOFL as well as the generosity of all the parents, grandparents, and community members who are so ready and willing to support the school. In recent years, NOFL funds have allowed for significant improvements throughout LMS, including seating refurbishments and audio-visual upgrades in the auditorium, new Chromebooks for students, new technology in the classrooms, and updates to the Literacy Lab. The school is so grateful for this incredible support. Congratulations to everyone involved for the success of this event!
by Meredith Brown
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