PHS Insomnia Benefits The Caring Place

Portage High School students got together for a good time and a great cause on Friday night into Saturday morning in the PHS Field House. The Insomnia lock-in event, which has become a spring staple over the last three years, was hosted by the Student Council.

Junior Emily Evans, who came up with the idea her freshman year, headed up the effort of putting the event together.  She spent months planning and ironing out all the details to make sure that Insomnia took place without a hitch.  This year the proceeds from donations, tee-shirts, food and participant costs will go to The Caring Place, a domestic violence shelter in Valparaiso.

"The funds that we raise tonight are going to help the women that stay there by buying them toiletries, some clothes and just helping them out with their day-to-day life,” Evans said.  “When I started looking for a charity, I was looking for suggestions and a lot of people suggested it, so I looked into it and it seemed like a really great place and a worthwhile place to raise money for.”

The first year of Insomnia, proceeds went toward helping provide relief to the natural disaster in Haiti.  In 2011, the field house lock-in benefited Gabriel’s Horn, a homeless shelter in South Haven.

This year’s festivities included the typical ice breaker games that students have enjoyed participating in each year along with volleyball, basketball and soccer.  In addition, Evans had several unique games planned for throughout the night.

“We’re going to have a fear factor competition, we have a couple of bands performing, we have a couple of more icebreaker games; it’s really exciting, we’re full of surprises.”

One of those surprises was a sneak peak at the spring musical The Wedding Singer.  Cast members from the musical performed one of their songs while the lights dimmed to add to the dramatic effect.  The musical makes its debut on April 20 and runs two weekends in the PHS East Auditorium.  Check back for full coverage of opening night on PortageLife.

Tee-shirts, pizza, snacks and drinks were all available for purchase, with all proceeds going directly to The Caring Place.  The lock-in lasted a full twelve hours, from 7a.m. to 7p.m.

“I stayed for all twelve hours last time, and I was dead tired come morning.  I just wanted to go home and sleep for days,” PHS Student Body President Marko Pekovic said.

The PHS JROTC contributed to the event by providing assistance and security.  South Haven Elementary principal Chris Evans, PHS Spanish teacher Linda Peda and PHS journalism/English teacher Melissa Deavers-Lowie all helped with the supervision of the students.  The PHS Administration and Athletic Department cooperated by allowing the Student Council to use the facilities.

Among the bands that performed Friday evening was Cool Kids, a group comprised of five PHS students.  Pow Wow Radio, Portage’s student-run online radio station, broadcasted live from Insomnia from 8:00 to 8:45 with reports, updates and interviews.  Click here for an archive of the Pow Wow Radio broadcast.

Insomnia for Haiti in 2010 raised an impressive figure, which was over $3000.  Last year there was a slight drop off, but over $1000 was still hauled in for Gabriel’s Horn.  Evans and the other students running the event were hoping to raise anywhere from $1500 to $3000 this time.

“I’m more than happy with the turnout this year, there are already more people than last year and they’re still coming in,” Evans said.

Insomnia is expected to return next year as Evans puts it on again for the final time during her four year tenure at PHS.

Click here for a full photo gallery from Insomnia!