North Indy News

UHS Community Comes Together To Celebrate ‘Nancy Night’

The University High School community came out to celebrate ‘Nancy Night’ on Saturday, Jan. 7 to cheer alongside retiring Director of Admission Nancy Webster for the event held in her honor!

The stands were packed with current Trailblazer students, alumni, and fans, equipped with signs featuring Nancy’s most famous cheers and catch phrases, to watch the Trailblazer boys and girls JV and varsity basketball teams play against Covenant Christian. 

All four teams played valiantly—each game showcased the high energy shared between the players and Trailblazer supporters in the stands. The girls JV team won their half with a score of 25-3. Next up, the boys JV team fought until the very end with a suspenseful conclusion in the third overtime and a final score of 57-64. 

Nancy joined the team lineup before the girls varsity game where she participated in the team’s pre-game routine and huddle. Girls varsity was victorious, scoring 64-26.

For the boys varsity matchup, Nancy again contributed her enthusiasm and wisdom during the team’s lineup and pre-game huddle. The team rounded out the night with a 51-44 win. 

“I have gone to thousands of basketball games in my life, but I’ve never played, so being a part of the huddle and then going through and slapping hands was pretty exciting and probably the closest I’ll ever be to being on a basketball team,” said Nancy. “What I wanted the players to remember was that they have to play their best game. They have to play like they always play. I didn’t want to take away from all the hard work they’ve put in.”

Between the girls and boys varsity games, Nancy and Chuck Webster, founding Head of School and Nancy’s husband, went head-to-head in a highly competitive free-throw contest where Nancy sank nine baskets without breaking a sweat. At the last second, Chuck came from behind, scoring a 10th shot just before the clock ran out.

“You know, I did get to wear the number one jersey and Chuck had to wear number two, so maybe it was good for his ego that he won,” joked Nancy regarding the close outcome of the competition.

More than $1,200 was raised from donations made throughout the evening for the U Fund, University High School’s annual fund, which is the single most important source of yearly fundraising income to make up the difference between tuition and the actual cost of the education provided. The U Fund pays the school’s daily expenses — salaries, financial aid, technology, science laboratory supplies, art materials, electricity, building maintenance, student activities, and all the programs that contribute to an outstanding educational experience. 

The evening also included a pizza dinner for alumni in Andrews Hall where Trailblazer alumni had the opportunity to visit while watching the games live streamed on a projector.

Thank you to all who came out to support Nancy and all of the participating Trailblazer students to make this special night a success!

“I think this whole thing was the brainchild of [Director of Communications] Ashley Crockett-Lohr and the way she saw it from start to finish. All the work that she and the entire UHS team put in–from [Music Director] Daniel Knox and the pep band, to [Cheer Coach] Callie Hartz and the cheer squad making those giant sparkly letters of my name–It was such a huge turnout and I felt the love from our current kids and alumni and so many of my colleagues who were able to come out,” said Nancy.

“I just loved it. In the words of my son, [Cullen], it’s so much better than a banquet!”

Original source can be found here