HHS Seniors at Gillette After Two Years of Planning

by HopNews Staff | Jun 5, 2026 | News, Schools

The lights went down, the music came up, and within minutes the dance floor at Gillette Stadium was packed with Hopkinton High School seniors celebrating the close of their high school years.

By the end of the night, students had formed a conga line singing Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’.” This was a fitting soundtrack for a class that organizers described as unusually close.

“The Class of 2026 is very, very close,” said class parent co-leader Gayle Ober. “They really gelled, and they had a great time together.”

Two Years of Planning

The Senior Parent Gillette Dinner was the result of two years of planning, fundraising, and volunteer work. Class parent co-leaders Kim Cooper and Gayle Ober worked with a six-member parent committee to organize the celebration, which drew approximately 800 guests.

The evening included dinner, music, dancing, and a student video produced by HCAM. After the program ended, the DJ lowered the lights. The dance floor filled quickly, and students stayed there for much of the night.

Gillette event coordinator Taylor Masuti said the Hopkinton celebration was among the best high school events she had seen at the venue.

Fundraising Helped Keep Tickets Affordable

Planning for the Gillette celebration began two years ago, with the first year focused largely on fundraising. About a year before the event, the committee met with Gillette to choose a date and begin working through the details. They were thoroughly impressed with Taylor Masuti and her team.

Parents organized several fundraisers, including a calendar raffle, restaurant nights, and events with local businesses. Additionally, the committee said sponsors and community support helped keep ticket prices reasonable for families.

“We are incredibly grateful to every sponsor, business, and volunteer who helped make this night happen,” said Cooper and Ober. “Their generosity helped keep ticket costs reasonable and gave the Class of 2026 a celebration they will always remember.”

Community Support Made the Night Possible

The parent committee credited a wide network of sponsors, local businesses, school partners, class coordinators, and parent volunteers with helping make the evening possible.

In addition to the fundraising support, Alan Connell and Eric Green of Campos Realty filmed a Gillette Night video for the Class of 2026. HCAM created a student video featuring photos of each senior and school administrators. Both seen below.

Carrie White of Sunnyside Gardens and Hopkinton Florist helped with flowers. Meanwhile, parents from the Class of 2027 paid it forward by setting up, decorating tables, and assisting with name tags as guests arrived.

A Parent Committee Effort

The six-member parent committee divided the work according to each person’s strengths. Their responsibilities spanned fundraising, finances, contracts, design, volunteer coordination, video support, and event logistics.

Cooper and Ober served as co-leaders, keeping the planning organized. They also recruited parent volunteers, sent out sign-up forms, and helped with logistics as needed.

Jill DeCosta handled technical work, including the Friends of HHS Class of 2026 website, and created artwork and design for signs and advertising.

Jenn Reisenberger led fundraising efforts and worked closely with HCAM to support editing of the student video.

Amy Arthur managed the finances, maintaining detailed spreadsheets to ensure expenses were tracked and paid.

Ileana Gomez assisted with contracts, fundraising, and legal details.

As the event approached, the group went from meeting monthly to meeting almost daily. Everyone helped with the effort. The Incoming Class of 2027 parent committee paid it forward by helping with the setup and name tags as guests arrived. Notably, Cooper and Ober compared the effort to planning a large wedding, but for nearly 800 guests.

The Final Verdict

When asked what he thought of the event, Scott Ober, Gayle’s husband and “a man of many words,” summed it up simply: “Perfect.”

Bill Cooper, Kim’s husband, was equally succinct: “Excellent and well organized.”

The Gillette celebration was the largest class parent event, but it was not the only one. The parents also helped organize last year’s bonfire and continue to support class advisers and other senior events.

For the committee, the strongest takeaway from the night was not the venue, but the students. They said the Class of 2026 showed joy, gratitude, and unity throughout the evening.

Heartfelt Thank You to All the Sponsors

The Class of 2026 Parent Committee extends its sincere thanks to all sponsors, businesses, community partners, and volunteers who helped make the Gillette celebration possible.

Special thanks to the Gold Sponsors: Hopkinton Marathon Fund Committee, Middlesex Savings Bank, and Blackstone Valley Wealth Management.