My High School Teacher is a Weekend Rock Star

My High School Teacher is a Weekend Rock Star

BOSTON

Ever wonder what your teachers do on their summer vacations? Students at Blackstone Valley Regional High School in Upton, Massachusetts may be surprised to learn that their music teacher, Katie Ruzanski, will be rockin' the stage at one of the largest, free outdoor concerts in the West.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120626/SF30819)

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120418/MM90603LOGO)

Ruzanski is a member of Scarlett Drive, the Worcester-based country rock band that won the San Francisco-based Bank of the West Facebook contest edging out hundreds of entries coast to coast in a nationwide band competition. Scarlett Drive will kick off Fourth of July celebrations in Omaha, Nebraska by opening the Bank of the West Celebrates America concert that will feature Huey Lewis and the News. Last year's concert drew an estimated 65,000 people.

"I think when my students see that I am actually doing what I have always wanted to do, it will add to the meaning of my profession," said Ruzanski. "As a teacher, I help kids understand that they can follow their dreams and that they are capable of just about anything they put their minds to. Now I can use myself as a real-life example....and my hope is that they can learn from this and see that maybe their dreams can also become a reality!"

Ruzanski's students will be able to view their teacher's performance via the Bank of the West YouTube channel youtube.com/BankoftheWest, where it will be posted after the concert.

WHAT:
High school teacher and weekend-rocker Katie Ruzanski performs with local band Scarlett Drive. The band entered the national Bank of the West band contest on Facebook and won the coveted spot as the concert opener for one of the largest free outdoor concerts in the West. Judges from Creative Artists Agency, Warner Atlantic Records, Romeo Entertainment Group and Bank of the West narrowed a wide array of nationwide band entries to seven finalists. Facebook fans chose the final winner.

WHY:
General assignment reporters, feature writers and photo editors may be interested in this slice of Americana for the upcoming July Fourth holiday.

WHO:
The five members of the winning band Scarlett Drive are:


-- Katie Ruzanski (vocals)
-- Keith Sullivan (bass guitar)
-- Josh Kleiner (vocals/lead guitar)
-- Tim Baumann (drums)
-- Chris Martin (vocal/rhythm guitar)
WHERE

Celebrates America is an outdoor Fourth of July celebration sponsored by Bank of the West.

Memorial Park at 60th and Underwood Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska

WHEN:
Friday, June 29, 2012

6 PM CDT National Anthem

6:05 PM CDT Scarlett Drive opens the concert

7:00 PM Mocking Bird Sun

8:30 PM Huey Lewis and the News

10 PM Fireworks

End of program

MEDIA CONTACTS:
Laura Mitchell, Event Media Relations

Office: (402) 895-2552 ext. 323

Cell: (402) 917-4751
lmitchell@lukaspartners.com

Lily Ruiz, Bank of the West

Corporate Communications

Cell: (415) 765-4850
Lily.ruiz@bankofthewest.com

/PRNewswire -- June 26, 2012/

SOURCE Bank of the West

Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120626/SF30819
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Photo:http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120418/MM90603LOGO
http://photoarchive.ap.org/
Bank of the West

Web Site: http://www.bankofthewest.com


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