WGME's fourth “School Spirit Challenge” is about to begin, and this time, Boothbay Region High School has been chosen to participate.

Along with eight other schools, the challenge is to collect as much food as possible for the Good Shepherd Food Bank in Auburn. This also benefits people locally, as Good Shepherd is a partner with the Boothbay Region Food Pantry.

The third challenge, which ended in early November of last year, raised a total of 336,273.55 pounds of food in total. The winners last year were the students at Sanford High School, who collected 93,729 of those pounds.

The second challenge, ending in March 2014, saw BRHS rival Wiscasset High School win after collecting 58,662 pounds of food.

BRHS formed a committee made up of students from the National Honor Society and the student council to plan fundraisers and run the challenge.

“They are planning a dance, a Mr. Seahawk beauty pageant, and a talent competition,” BRHS principal Dan Welch said. “Probably more events as well. A parent is donating a homemade Seahawk quilt to be raffled off as well, and we are involving the elementary school in the challenge.”

Part of the challenge involves an all-school pep rally where WGME visits the school. For Boothbay, the pep rally will be Feb. 27 at 6 a.m.

“The committee has to be here at 5 a.m., and the rest of the school shows up at 5:30 a.m.,” said Student Body President Karl Alamo, who Welch said has “really taken a lead on this project.”

“Once WGME shows up and we're ready, basically the whole school goes crazy,” Alamo said. “Mr. Welch said if we do a good job, he might make the rest of the day a free day.”

“The SSC is all about showing off everything that makes your school a great place to be by demonstrating why you have the best school and the most community spirit,” according to the WGME school spirit Web page.

“We've really looking forward to the rally,” Alamo said. “It will be a chance to represent the school and to show off how much we raised. We're up against bigger schools, but I've seen this community pull together in amazing ways, and I think we can win.”

Participating schools this round are Mt. Ararat, Gould Academy, Kents Hill, Cony High, McAuley, St. Dominic, Lake Region, and Winslow along with BRHS.

The first event to raise money — which will be used to purchase food for the fundraiser — will be a talent show held on Thursday, Jan. 22 at 6 p.m. in the BRHS auditorium. It is open to students from both BRHS and BRES, and judging the contest will be teachers Mary Miller, Dick Morrison and Manon Lewis.

Admission is $5 and there will be a concession stand. Top finishers in the competition will be awarded cash prizes.

The winner of the School Spirit Challenge wins the coveted Spirit Cup Trophy, and the top three finishers are recognized by WGME.

Those looking to donate directly to BRHS's drive can visit www.gsfb.org/donate/vfd/?id=372.

The committee members organizing the activities meet every Tuesday to plan. The group includes freshmen Kate Daku, Cameron Crocker, Lovely Uberita, Jackie McLoon, Devyn Campbell, Evy Case and Caitlin Chaousis; sophomores Kate Friant, Joseph Paolillo, Nicole Clarke, Sam Betts, Alexis Welch, Colette Bertin and Chyanne Rodgers; juniors Hannah Morley, Gabe Purin, Cody Dobson, Angela Machon, Nicole Rice, Camden Spear and Xavier Downing; and seniors Kyle Alamo, Karl Alamo, Zach Vise, Collin Thompson, David Machon, Howie Carter, Sarah Durgan, Taylor Walby, Brenna Alley, Nicole LaBrecque, Courtney Brewer and Sinead Miller.