[embedded content]
The Patrick John Hughes Parent Booster Award recognizes the extraordinary commitment, dedication, support, and sacrifice of music parents and boosters across the nation by shining a spotlight on a recipient who exemplifies these qualities.
The award is named in honor of Patrick John Hughes, the father of Patrick Henry Hughes. Patrick Henry is a remarkable young man who, despite physical challenges that would seem overwhelming to many, has excelled as a musician and student, singing and playing piano and trumpet with the Louisville Marching and Pep Bands, with the help of his father, who tirelessly maneuvers his son’s wheelchair through the formations with the other 220+ members of the Cardinal Marching Band.
On Friday night during the Grand National Championships, the 2017 Patrick John Hughes Parent Booster award was awarded to Greg Hooper of Powder Springs, Georgia.
Successful band programs are made of driven students, passionate teachers, and committed parents and boosters (with those adjectives applying to all). Since 2008, the Patrick John Hughes Parent/Booster Award annually honors a parent, booster, or volunteer who selflessly gives their support and dedication to a band program. The recipients of this award come from different backgrounds, yet are revered as heroes by their programs and make a commitment to keeping the students a priority. That’s 2017 Parent/Booster recipient Greg Hooper’s ideology: “the kids come first.”
A former band member of McEachern High School in Powder Springs, Georgia, Greg has been an active member of the McEachern High School Band Booster Club since 1993 when his first child became a member of the band. As all four of his children were active members of the band, Greg served in a variety of positions such as Co-President and Co-Vice President for the McEachern Band Parent Association and chairing different committees including Equipment, Props, Field Crew/Truck Crew, and Fundraising. He was also McEachern’s trip organizer, heading a trip for the Lord Mayor’s Parade in London. Even long after his children graduated from the band program, he continues to serve as a Props Engineer as he builds and designs the vision of each show. For the past 22 years, Mr. Hooper has served the Cobb County School District as head of the staging crew for the Cobb County High School and Middle School Band and Orchestra Large Group Performance Evaluation. He is also a part of logistical services for the Cobb County Marching Band Exhibition.
Jeff Harper, former Associate Director of Bands at McEachern, says Greg is “thoughtful, helpful, and remarkably selfless with his time.” He commends Greg’s passion for music advocacy and unwavering support for the arts in the Cobb Country School District. Most recently Greg has spent time volunteering as part of the stage crew for Music for All’s Affiliate Southeastern Regional Concert Festival at Georgia State University. He also was an attendee of Music for All’s Summer Symposium Parent Booster Institute, while his daughter attended the Summer Symposium as a student.
Highly regarded in his community and band family, Greg is a strong and inspiring figure to everyone around him. He truly personifies Music for All’s mission “to create, provide, and expand positively life-changing experiences through music for all” through his selfless actions of ensuring that students are provided the best musical experiences. To Mr. Greg Hooper, thank you for your dedication to the students.
Mr. Hooper pictured with past Parent/Booster Award Winners
