Hillsdale Academy is joining forces with Johnny T’s Bistro to host a fundraiser dinner that will raise money for the junior and senior class trip to Greece and Rome.
The dinner, which will be served at the academy on Saturday at 5:30 p.m., is open to the public. Tickets are $5 at the door, an excellent price for a delicious meal, according to Kenneth Calvert, the academy head master. All proceeds go to fund the spring educational trip.
The 12-day trip, which is a culmination of the students’ high school education, is during the academy’s spring break. It includes stops in Athens, Pompeii, Rome, Florence, and other cities. The students will learn about such things as Athenian democracy and Roman Republicanism and visit various museums along the way.
“We also visit Delphi and see what Apollo has to tell us,” Calvert said. They will spend Holy Week in Rome, and conclude in northern Italy to “enjoy the music and food of Venice.”
Fittingly, there is no better fundraiser for such a trip than an Italian dinner, provided by Johnny T’s Bistro. Rick Tropiano, owner of the restaurant and an academy parent, said the dinner will consist of stuffed shells Florentine, pesto and tomato pasta, rolls, salad, and ice cream for dessert.
“We provide it in appreciation for Hillsdale Academy and what they do,” Tropiano said.
“They do this out of the goodness of their hearts and to make sure we have a good meal,” Calvert said.
The night will also include a raffle, with $1000 as first prize, and a silent auction. The majority of the money is raised through raffle tickets, which may be bought through Saturday. In years past, the dinner has raised $12-14,000 to help subsidize the cost for the students. Thirty-three students and 20 adults will attend the trip.
“The adults always cause me trouble,” Calvert said. “I’m particularly worried about John Miller, who is going on this trip.”
And despite minor questions about whether the trip is a wise expenditure, Calvert said that people spend money on many other things, so why not spend it on an educational tour.
“It really serves as a capstone of all the ancient and Renaissance history and art theses students have studied over the years,” Calvert said.
