Three million people along the parade route and more than 50 million watching on TV – that will be the audience when the Nation Ford High School Marching Band struts down Seventh Avenue in New York City during the 2011 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade. Band students erupted into cheers Thursday afternoon when they heard the news that they were one of eight high school bands selected from 150 applicants to be in the parade. Students and staff were called to a special assembly in the school auditorium to hear the news.

 

“I watch some of the best marching bands in the country and something tells me that I’m in the presence of one today,” said Wesley Whatley, creative director for the Macy’s parade.

 

NFHS Band Director Martin Dickey sent in an application to appear in the parade months ago, he said. He included a list of the band’s accomplishments – including a 2010 S.C. 3A championship – a video of one of their performances and recommendations from other band directors. Nation Ford opened three years ago. Prior to that, Dickey led Fort Mill High School to multiple state titles.

 

“I thought, ‘Let’s just go after this,’” Dickey said. “I was putting together the [application] with the hopes of learning where we needed to improve, what are we weak in. And I was really surprised at only three years old to be admitted. But our application was strong. Even the first day we opened the school the band was strong and doing well. ”Fundraising for the trip will begin almost immediately, Dickey said. He estimates that it will cost between $800 and $1,000 per student to get the band to the Macy’s parade. There are about 150 students in the band. No money will come from the school district, Dickey emphasized.

 

Sophomore Jacob Lutz said he is ready to ramp up fundraising for the trip. “I’m just going to try really hard,” Lutz said. “And hope we can raise the money.”

 

For sophomore Sara Tennant, the trip is a chance to see a city she’s only dreamed of visiting. “This is my dream trip,” Tennant said. “I’ve never been to the city. I can’t wait to see all of the lights – and the parade!”

 

The last time a Fort Mill band went to the Macy’s parade was in 1986. Dickey said that while in New York, he hopes to take students to see a Broadway play and do some sightseeing. He also hopes the community gets excited about the exposure Fort Mill will receive and gets behind the fundraising efforts. “It’s exciting, and allows our students to demonstrate to the entire country how talented they are,” Nation Ford Principal Beverley Bowman said.

 

Because the event in more than a year-and-a-half in the future, the band’s current seniors and juniors will be left out of the fun. However, Dickey did tell the Nation Ford juniors that he hoped to plan a special trip for them to New York City next year, because of the role they played in getting the Nation Ford Band into the Macy’s parade.

 

Assistant Superintendent Chuck Epps, who will take over as Fort Mill School District’s superintendent when current schools chief Keith Callicutt retires in June, summed it up for the students: “You make us proud,” Epps said.