Marysville Pilchuck High School’s drama club rehearses at the school Feb. 20. (Ian Terry / The Herald)

Marysville Pilchuck High School’s drama club rehearses at the school Feb. 20. (Ian Terry / The Herald)

Mom gives her $25,000 windfall to Marysville high schools

Among the beneficiaries is the drama club, which gets much-needed audio equipment.

MARYSVILLE — Imagine singing in a high school musical, when suddenly, the microphones cut out.

It’s a familiar scene for students in the shared drama club for Marysville Pilchuck and Getchell high schools.

“There have been times where the mics will stop working, and I’ll think, ‘Well, I guess I’m just yelling the rest of this song,’ ” Getchell senior Emmaline Savidge said.

She might be able to save her voice next time.

The club in January was awarded $10,000, which was used to buy microphones. The money was part of a $25,000 donation to Marysville Pilchuck from Adriana Maldonado, whose children go to the school. She won the money through a company whose wellness products she sells.

Her son, Jesus German, is in drama. He’s a freshman, and Maldonado believes he’s benefited from the theater program.

“I think the drama club helped him strive for other things and to be more involved with school,” she said.

Roy Klementsen has been the drama instructor on campus for more than 14 years. The most common complaint he gets is the audience can’t hear.

The club uses ticket sales from one play to fund the next, Klementsen said. He’s never been able to buy high-quality microphones. The cheaper ones last about three shows and use hundreds of batteries, he said.

“We got some that will last, which will be nice,” he said. “They will hopefully last a decade, until I retire at least.”

The students’ next show is “The Drowsy Chaperone,” which runs April 26 to 28, and May 3 to 5.

Jesus German is excited to be in his first musical, and for the audience to be able to hear.

Marysville Pilchuck junior Ashlyn Stoker has been in the club since her freshman year. She’s one of the vice presidents and is the assistant director for “The Drowsy Chaperone.” She also plays the show’s title character. Her world revolves around drama club, she said.

“I am so excited, oh my goodness, it’s all we’ve been talking about since we’ve been able to purchase the microphones,” she said.

The club is run by a student committee, which decided how to spend the donation.

The school plans to use the remaining $15,000 to paint Marysville Pilchuck logos in the lunch room, and for new projection equipment in the gym, Principal David Rose said. The new screen should release with the touch of a button.

Donations are made to the school throughout the year, but they’re usually not this large, he said.

“We have never in my lifetime gotten a donation of this amount with the ability to impact so many students,” Rose said.

Dulce German, Maldonado’s daughter and a junior at Marysville Pilchuck, thinks her mom’s donation will benefit the entire school.

“It makes me really happy and proud of her, because she worked really hard to do this and to support our school,” Dulce said.

Stephanie Davey: 425-339-3192; sdavey @heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

Trader Joe’s customers walk in and out of the store on Monday, Nov. 20, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Trader Joe’s opens this week at Everett Mall

It’s a short move from a longtime location, essentially across the street, where parking was often an adventure.

Ian Bramel-Allen enters a guilty plea to second-degree murder during a plea and sentencing hearing on Wednesday, March 6, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Deep remorse’: Man gets 17 years for friend’s fatal stabbing in Edmonds

Ian Bramel-Allen, 44, pleaded guilty Wednesday to second-degree murder for killing Bret Northcutt last year at a WinCo.

Firefighters respond to a small RV and a motorhome fire on Tuesday afternoon in Marysville. (Provided by Snohomish County Fire Distrct 22)
1 injured after RV fire, explosion near Marysville

The cause of the fire in the 11600 block of 81st Avenue NE had not been determined, fire officials said.

Ashton Dedmon appears in court during his sentencing hearing on Tuesday, March 5, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett Navy sailor sentenced to 90 days for fatal hit and run

Ashton Dedmon crashed into Joshua Kollman and drove away. Dedmon, a petty officer on the USS Kidd, reported he had a panic attack.

A kindergarten student works on a computer at Emerson Elementary School on Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘¡Una erupción!’: Dual language programs expanding to 10 local schools

A new bill aims to support 10 new programs each year statewide. In Snohomish County, most follow a 90-10 model of Spanish and English.

Cassie Franklin, Mayor of Everett, delivers the annual state of the city address Thursday morning in the Edward D. Hansen Conference Center in Everett, Washington on March 31, 2022.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
At Everett mayor’s keynote speech: $35 entry, Boeing sponsorship

The city won’t make any money from the event, city spokesperson Simone Tarver said. Still, it’s part of a trend making open government advocates wary.

Logo for news use featuring the Tulalip Indian Reservation in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Woman drives off cliff, dies on Tulalip Reservation

The woman fell 70 to 80 feet after driving off Priest Point Drive NW on Sunday afternoon.

Everett
Boy, 4, survives fall from Everett fourth-story apartment window

The child was being treated at Seattle Children’s. The city has a limited supply of window stops for low-income residents.

People head out to the water at low tide during an unseasonably warm day on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Lighthouse Park in Mukilteo, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett shatters record high temperature by 11 degrees

On Saturday, it hit 73 degrees, breaking the previous record of 62 set in 2007.

Snohomish County Fire District #4 and Snohomish Regional Fire & Rescue respond to a motor vehicle collision for a car and pole. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene, near Triangle Bait & Tackle in Snohomish. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office)
Police: Troopers tried to stop driver before deadly crash in Snohomish

The man, 31, was driving at “a high rate of speed” when he crashed into a traffic light pole and died, investigators said.

Alan Dean, who is accused of the 1993 strangulation murder of 15-year-old Bothell girl Melissa Lee, appears in court during opening statements of his trial on Monday, March 18, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
31 years later, trial opens in Bothell teen’s brutal killing

In April 1993, Melissa Lee’s body was found below Edgewater Creek Bridge. It would take 27 years to arrest Alan Dean in her death.

Logo for news use featuring the municipality of Snohomish in Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
Man dies after crashing into pole in Snohomish

Just before 1 a.m., the driver crashed into a traffic light pole at the intersection of 2nd Street and Maple Avenue.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.