(Audubon) Beginning in August 2024, all Kindergarten through 12th-grade students in Audubon Community schools will receive free activity tickets. This is possible through generous donations from AMVC, Audubon State Bank, Dr. Daryl and Nancy Olsen.
It is a three-year initiative of the school board, modeled after several other area schools. President Mark Nissen mentioned, “This is a win-win for all involved. All our students will benefit from having an easier time getting to games. Our athletes will appreciate having more support from their classmates. And, of course, it makes attending events easier for our families to afford. It continues to bring our community together, and we’re excited to see it happen.”
The money from ticket sales is usually used to cover the costs of hosting home events, such as referees and umpires, which is an expense that continues to rise. The school board intended to hold a fundraiser to offset the costs of activity tickets but decided to reach out to Dr. Daryl Olsen for support, who sought support from AMVC and Audubon State Bank. They pledged to cover student activity ticket costs for the next three school years. Dr. Olsen shared, “We’ve been fortunate to build a life here in Audubon, along with a business. We raised our kids here. We’re passionate about giving back, and supporting a program that clearly and directly benefits the kids and community is exciting.”
The value of this donation is estimated at $45,000 over the three-year commitment ($15,000 per year). The district recently moved to an electronic ticketing system (Bound), which will provide precise data on student game attendance.
The school board has also committed to tracking data for future decision-making over the next three years. Free student activity tickets via Bound will be available at the start of the 2024-2025 school year, and the program is anticipated to run through the 25/26 and 26/27 school years as well.
All students will be issued an activity ticket for admission to games. An adult must accompany students in grades four and below, and all students will be expected to follow good-conduct expectations. The school will review frequently asked questions, rules, and expectations for students and families.
