Members of the Oak Harbor High School Drama Club are asking for community support to allow senior members to attend the International Thespian Festival at Indiana University in June.

To Drama Teacher and Advisor Melissa Gibson’s knowledge, after consulting with a bookkeeper, this is the first time the school is bringing a play to this prestigious event, which will take place June 23-28.

While this is an exceptional achievement for the club and the school, students were soon disappointed to find out the seniors involved with the play, including Directors Eclipse Garrett and Kincaid Cochran, could not go to Indiana by using the funds they had raised over the years from shows and other initiatives.

Communications Officer Sarah Foy said there are certain rules dictating what the district can spend public funds on. If the fundraising is done through the Associated Students Body, state law says the funds — which are public — must be spent on current students, a rule that applies to cultural, recreational and athletic student groups as well.

Cochran said this is unfair, as the club has raised money thanks to the seniors’ contribution.

“The money would be spent on us when we are still attending school, and would go to furthering our education with theater,” she wrote in a text.

Since the event will take place after graduation, Foy said the rule still applies, and encourages the students to reach out to their representatives to make change.

“If we were not under certain requirements and obligations, we would have no issue with it,” she said.

Garrett acknowledged the district has to comply with the law, and noted an improvement in the collaboration with the club. Yet, they said, students could receive more support in their outside fundraising efforts, like customer service training to raise funds as a separate entity.

Gibson said she understands the students’ frustration and the district’s position.

The club and the troupe have brought great pride to Gibson, who has been teaching in the district for nine years. The students, she said, made the program stronger than it had ever been before the pandemic.

In March, the club brought a play for the first time to the Washington State Thespian Festival, competing against other schools. “Nellie,” which was first presented at the school’s Fall Drama Fest with other student-directed plays, scored a Superior rating and was chosen as the Chapter Select, qualifying for the international competition.

“Nellie” is based on the true story of Investigative Reporter Nellie Bly, who went undercover as a patient at a women’s asylum to expose the inhumane treatment the patients were subjected to.

The students’ reaction, Gibson said, “felt like they just won the Best Picture at the Oscars.”

Furthermore, the troupe won the Bronze Honor Troupe award for their achievements in theater participation, production and outreach, while senior Garrett won the Dana Brown Thespian Scholarship for study in theater education, according to an email sent by Gibson.

Garrett and Cochran said they have received extensive support from the community, but need more help to send the seniors to the festival.

Another challenge, Cochran said, is the club’s lack of nonprofit status, which does not give organizations the tax write off incentive to make donations.

“We’re not getting as many donations because of that,” Cochran said. “If we were allowed to run it through the school, they would have been able to have a tax write off.”

The goal is to raise $10,000, Cochran said, and any monetary donations are appreciated. Garrett said the club is trying to make costs “as equitable as possible,” based on the student’s qualification and amount of money they are able to pay.

There are different ways the community can support the club’s cause.

People can make a donation to Garrett’s Gofundme by searching “Troupe 6307 to International Thespian Festival.”

The club will bring “Nellie” to the Whidbey Playhouse at 7 p.m. on April 29 and at 5:30 and 7 p.m. on April 30. Tickets can only be purchased at the door by donation, and April 30 attendees can participate in a silent auction.

From 9 a.m. to noon on May 18, the club will host a rummage sale on the sidewalk in front of the school, though according to Gibson, the funds will go to non-senior club members who will go to the festival.