A Groovy Event: Mile High Academy Auction celebrates the 70s

Grateful Dead, Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, Blue Oyster Cult, Simon and Garfunkel, Van Halen, and, of course, the Beatles, sounded from the speakers into the audience’s ears to confirm that, yes, Mile High Academy definitely took a step back in time to host its 15^th annual auction. Using the groovy essence of the 1970s, the school served up a morning of nostalgia. Some guests wore their whitest, brightest Gogo boots, while others donned their tie-dye and bell-bottoms. It was a hip scene, grooving for a good cause: to support the school’s Worthy Family Fund, an account that helps cover the cost of tuition for families in need.

“I love this theme! It was fun to put together and having the students here as part of the event makes it that much better,” said a smiling Katrina Dean from behind huge purple sunglasses. “It reminds us why we’re here.”

The music set the mood and brought out a bit of air guitar and lip-synching to Rush and Jimi Hendrix. Al Ochoa put the playlist together.

“It was easy to do. I just pulled everything from my playlist. This is what I listened to in high school,” said Ochoa with a casually hip shoulder shrug and sly grin.

When it came time to dine, the music was the backdrop to the table decorations, creatively put together by Daisy Easley. Each table setting included an LP from artists of the era, as well as table names reflecting who was on stage in those days. And there were lots of daisies, the signature flower of the 70s.

Dustin Friend put his past culinary skills to work in the kitchen. He and a good-natured group of volunteers laughed their way through making mountains of pancakes, mouthwatering breakfast burritos and delectable egg salad sandwiches. Each table had an assortment of comfort-food sides such as peach compote and baked apples.

“I worked with food for 10 years. Now I tell people I cook the books,” said a jovial Friend, who is a financial planner.

Volunteers successfully filled the silent auction with more than 100 enticing items, while students created art pieces for the live auction.

The school is celebrating its 100-year anniversary as a decade each month. December was all about the 1950s. Two months later took them into today as the 1970s.

Can you dig it? This school is far out and happenin’. Try to catch them on the flip side because these cool cats are out of sight!

Mile High Academy is among one of the oldest and longest standing Christian private schools in metro Denver. To learn more about this school visit www.milehighacademy.org.