With the second annual Raider Rally behind us, we wanted to shine a light on some of the hard work and dedication that goes into this event with the volunteers of the Central Raiders Booster Club. We sat down with Central alumni, parent, and longtime supporter Melissa Barthel to get her perspective.
The story of the Raider Rally started a few years ago when the Dean of Students/Activities Director Joe Kley approached the booster club with the idea of starting an event that would serve as a fundraiser and celebration of the district’s rich history. Using other area events as a model, the team got to work to map out what the event would be.
At the second annual event in 2025, the evening began as the doors opened and guests began to arrive and get their bidding numbers for the silent and live auctions. Attendees had the opportunity to buy a drink, socialize, and check out the auction items as Principal Rich Larson provided the musical entertainment. A formal dinner is then served while folks have one last chance to review silent auction items before getting to bid on live auction items like getting access to a cabin for a week or prime parking spots for parents at school events. The money being bid will ultimately be used to support student activities at Central.
“We know that our community wants to come together to support our kids and supplement some of those purchases towards sports, activities, and other student needs,” said Barthel. “It has been incredibly successful but we want to continue to get more current families and community members to attend because fundraisers like this can keep costs down for our schools.”
The Central Hall of Fame has been a big driver of attendance and participation. Nominations are accepted ahead of time which are reviewed by the hall of fame committee with each year’s class of honorees representing a variety of accomplishments, activities, and times in the district’s history. Superintendent Schochenmaier introduces each honoree and they are able to give a short speech.
While celebrating the history of the district is important, the Raider Rally is also focused on building support systems for the present and the future of Raider Nation.
The Central Raiders Booster Club proudly donates to every single activity and sport at Central Public Schools. The recent rally raised a total of more than $30,000 which will be donated to programs ranging from sports, theater, or purchases like STEAM activities, the book vending machine at the elementary school, or other items.
“Boosters can potentially play a role in any activity and is not just about athletics,” said Barthel. “We know that the sports fees won’t cover everything for students so we want to help cover those extra costs so that the fees don’t go way up to create barriers to participation in activities.”
The community steps up for this event with many local businesses becoming sponsors or donating items for auctions. Popular items have included tickets to nearby attractions, golf outings, and goods or gift cards from local businesses.
The team is already thinking ahead to next year and are hoping to create a culture of collaboration with team-specific booster organizations and spread the word that the event is about more than the hall of fame.
“We want our current families to attend and be a part of this event because it really does so much for our kids,” said Barthel. “We know there are some logistical things that we will continue to learn as we go but we want other parents to know that this is a really fun event for everyone and a great way to gather as adults to come together for our schools.