It’s year four of the Rocket Raffle, and as of Jan. 27, McNicholas students had nearly met the $197,700 goal in the first week and half. During the first year of the raffle, the grand prize was $10,000, but in 2024, the prize was a Ford Bronco. This year’s grand prize is a 2025 Jeep Wrangler, provided by Mt. Orab Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram.
The Rocket Raffle is the only school-wide fundraiser that relies fully on student participation. The Walk-a-thon was held for years as the all-school fundraiser where students had pledges offer a certain amount of money for each mile they completed.
“[Students] are reaching more people this way [than with the Walk-a-thon]… especially with social media, texting, emails, phone calls. The Walk-a-thon, was a piece of paper to record pledges per mile,” said Alumni and Parent Engagement Manager and Mrs. Angela Kramer, Class of ‘99.
In 2024, the Rocket Raffle raised $243,000 and has been able to help provide financial support to many families of incoming freshmen.
“[Rocket Raffle] primarily focuses on helping our freshmen and incoming Rockets, but I think it goes into the mix to help our other Rockets,” Director of Advancement Mrs. Tricia Conrad said. As far as deciding the grand prize, Conrad said, “They [Mt. Orab] help us decide what vehicle is the best value, what’s still fun for students to want to pick, and then we partner with them and they help us provide that [the car].”
The grand prize this year, a 2025 Jeep Wrangler, is made possible through a partnership with Mt. Orab Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, and Ram. The raffle is promoted through McNicholas High School social media and newsletters, as well as the Mt. Orab dealership social media accounts.
Many students have figured out efficient and effective ways to sell tickets to raise the money to meet the goals set by the school. “I email every single teacher in the school, have a certain text, post on social media every day, have my parents send out [information] to their co-workers, and have them post about it too to reach more people, and then send it out to my place of employment,” said senior Francie Goff, who has raised $3,175 this year, which deems her as the top seller for the senior class so far. Last year, Goff raised $5,200.
At press time, McNicholas High School has raised $151,375 out of our $197,700 goal. As first year Rockets, the freshman class had many selling over $1,000 in the first week. SAIL teacher and freshman CREW mentor teacher Mrs. Val Combs said she helps motivate her students by “talking about it every day. I don’t just mention it, I put it up on the screen. I go around and ask their totals, [tell them to] take the time to email someone or text someone. Just saying to do it doesn’t always happen so setting aside the time is helpful.”
Each CREW is given a personal goal based on the number of students in each CREW and each student’s individual goal is $300. Conrad is hoping for 100% participation this year, with Flight Deans and CREW Mentors creating personal incentives for members of their CREWs.
“I have a very small CREW this year, so I decided to have a goal for myself of $450 and any student who meets this goal or surpasses it, will have the chance to win a $50 gift card to a place of their choice from me,” Combs said.
Sophomore Meredith Sedler said she has been trying to appeal to alumni. “At first I went to my family members and sent them a text but then my mom offered to post it on her social media and she’s a McNick alum so that helped,” Sedler said. She added that she has been able to sell tickets by going out of her comfort zone and recommended others do the same in order to ask more people and not to be afraid to ask. With a week and a half left in the raffle, students have a week less to sell than last year. Due to snow days the first week after returning from Christmas break, the selling time for the raffle is only three weeks.
Tickets will be sold through Feb. 7 at 11:59 p.m. with the winning ticket being drawn at halftime during the Boys’ Varsity Basketball game on Feb. 8.
Purchase tickets here: https://secure.qgiv.com/event/rocketraffle2025/
The McNicholas Milestone 