Does Albert Lea High School have spirit? Members of the student council think students could use a little more.
They’ve tried cool dress-up days for homecoming week and activities for pep fests, but their new idea is about a couch, the Spirit Couch to be exact.
The funky, floral couch is the new accessory with prime seating at the boys’ and girls’ home basketball games. Get VIP treatment, compliments of the Student Council, by entering the Spirit Couch raffle.
The Spirit Couch is an idea thought up by Student Council member Zoe Hill. The goal of the Spirit Couch is to raise school spirit, fundraise, and encourage more participation at sporting events.
“We were looking at some fundraising ideas and I found this idea online,” Hill said. “I thought it was a great idea and people on student council seemed to like it too.”
To enter the Spirit Couch drawing, students come to the office and pay $1 to fill out a raffle ticket. Profits from the raffle tickets benefit a Breast Cancer foundation. Before a home basketball game, the winner’s name is announced over the intercom by Sandra Jimenez. The winner is allowed to invite up to three friends to the game. Prizes include free admission, a slice of pizza and a beverage. Josh Piper, Chris Weniger and Laura Piper all had fun on the Spirit Couch.
“It was kind of cool because you got to sit on the couch,” said junior Josh Piper. “Getting the pizza and pop was a good bonus.”
There hasn’t been a lot of participation in the Spirit Couch raffle, but it’s new. The student council plans to continue the raffle until the end of the basketball season.
“Our goal is to have more student involvement,” said Principal’s Secretary Sandra Jimenez.
The plan for Spirit Couch is to have it become a tradition. Many other schools and colleges have incorporated events like the Spirit Couch into their sporting events to encourage more attendance. The Student Council is always looking for fresh ideas for fun events for the student body, like the events at pep fests for the royalty and dress up days for homecoming week. Any students with suggestions on how to do it differently or any other suggestions for school spirit should visit Sandra Jimenez in the office.
“We’re always looking for more involvement from the student body,” Hill said. “Feedback from the students will help us make things more fun.”