Oakwood High band history preserved

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It seemed a perfect fit to complete his Eagle Scout project by honoring past, present and future field commanders and band directors for all their dedication and hard work.

This became an all-encompassing endeavor. Since last November, he has recruited donors, sponsors and volunteers to help create a 6-foot-by-10-foot display recognizing all OHS field commanders and band directors in OHS’s history. Approvals from the Oakwood Band Parent’s Association, the superintendent of Oakwood City Schools, and the principal of OHS had to be obtained.

After everything was approved, it was time to do the heavy work of creating the display. All of the field commanders and directors were to be recognized on plaques.

“Sam felt the need to make the plaques out of oak because they would be hung in Oakwood,” said his dad, Craig Nicholaisen. “So he secured rough cut Red Oak [that had to be] milled, routed, sanded and stained.”

All the research on these band leaders had to be done, and name plates were engraved. Each plaque represented a decade. Sam also had the great idea of hanging the plaques on a painted musical score of Oakwood’s fight song.

“The hardest part of the project was finding people and places that would allow me to use their tools, workshops and office supplies; everything that went into the project,” said Sam Nicholaisen.

He enjoyed the research part, which entailed looking through decades of OHS yearbooks.

“I’ve come across details I’ve never known about. One of the things I learned was the Oakwood High School band won a trip to Germany for a competition around the 70s or 80s,” said S. Nicholaisen.

The display is located on a wall just outside the OHS band room. In addition to the plaques, scrapbooks about the bands were compiled. The first public appearance of this display took place at a Grand Unveiling Ceremony at Oakwood High School on May 13.

“The field commanders loved it. They were glad that I was able to recognize them,” said Sam Nicholaisen.

That ceremony was also part of his project, with about 100 people attending. Sam secured the auditorium, wrote a speech, took care of catering, created awards, and sent out invitations to the honorees, donors, sponsors, volunteers and guests.

“What Sam has created is a very unique and entirely living document, in that he has researched as much as possible from the year the Oakwood Marching Band began in 1925 to today, while leaving room for the project’s continuance through 2069,” said Craig Nicholaisen.

If Sam realizes his dream of becoming an OHS band field commander, then his name will be printed on one of the remaining empty nameplates. It would be a fitting tribute to his completed Eagle Scout project and his determination to fulfill a goal.