The newly announced Class of 2015 Blue Key Heads (BKH) charged through the library on Tuesday night, officially marking the start of a new year of facepaint, push-ups and roaring cheers.
The Class of 2014 BKHs officially announced their selections that evening. Seniors Grant Bitler, Austin Gaiss, Kasey Hartung, Catherine Haseman, Cooper Hurley, Daniel Kim, Marjorie Kozloff, Stephanie Nekoroski, Adella Pierre and Matt Simon, Class of 2014 BKHs, passed down their blue pleated skirts to Patrick Daly, Lila Dolan, Rob Irvin, Claire Jacobson, Paul Kinard, Benny Ogando, Ellie Simon, Jordan Swett, Lane Unsworth and Kinsey Yost.
This year, 31 Uppers — 20 girls and 11 boys — applied for the BKH positions, according to Christopher Capano, Director of Student Activities and Advisor to the Blue Key Society. As in previous years, the process involved a written application, as well as a live audition before an audience of students in Lower Right of Paresky Commons.
A few of 2014’s BKHs noted that the auditions this year tended to be less sexually oriented than many of last year’s auditions. Instead, most of this year’s auditions seemed to focus on being as humorous as possible.
“This year, the applicants did a wonderful job of keeping things PG. Last year, there were instances where things had gotten a bit out of hand, but I think the Class of 2015 did a great job of keeping things tame but still creative and fun to watch,” said Nekoroski.
Gaiss added, “We definitely emphasized that all applicants should keep [auditions] PG. Walking the fine line between being funny while keeping things appropriate is an integral part of being a Blue Key Head.”
“From the start, the whole process has been so much fun. The audition was one of the best things I have done here at Andover, and I am very excited for the rest of the year,” wrote Jacobson in an email to The Phillipian.
As part of the auditions, the applicants serenaded their peers, did push-ups, invented and taught the crowd their own creative cheers, pretended to be animals and led cheers to demonstrate their ability to inspire the crowd to get “a little bit rowdy.”
Irvin said, “The most fun part [of the audition] was definitely the serenade. It’s not very often that you have the chance to completely embarrass yourself, and I had a great time doing it.”
“The hardest part [of my audition] was trying not to forget the words to ‘Burning Love’ as I serenaded Bryan Ackil because I was just so lost in beautiful blue eyes,” said Dolan.
Among other duties, the role of the BKHs involves organizing and running new-student orientation, leading cheers at all home sports games and spreading spirit across campus.
Haseman explained that a BKH’s duty goes above and beyond leading cheers.
“There is a more personal aspect to it. They are not just Blue Key Heads during their weekly meetings or during football games. It is a 24-hour-a-day commitment, and I hope to see this commitment manifest itself in their everyday attitudes, in their relationships with their friends and in their friendliness toward the rest of the student body,” she said.
The new BKHs all expressed their excitement as they step into their new roles.
“This feeling is indescribable… I can’t help but smile and laugh, and this will go down as one of the best days of my Andover career,” said Yost in an email to The Phillipian.
“Right now I’m essentially lost in euphoria. This is hands down the proudest moment of my life, and I am beyond excited to represent PA with Big Blue Spirit,” said Swett.
Ogando said, “My goal as a Blue Key Head is to make sure everyone I pass by walk by on the path or anywhere on this campus is smiling and happy to be at Andover. I’m always in a happy and positive mood, and I want everybody around me to be in one as well.”
