It’s a Valentine’s dinner dance for the benefit of Ripon High School’s student body completely organized by the RHS Leadership Class under the direction of activities instructor Jill Mortensen.

The 14th annual event is set for 6 p.m. at the Ripon Community Center complete with a social and silent auction. Dinner is scheduled for 7 with a live auction to follow at 7:45. Dancing will follow until 11 p.m., according to class publicity commissioner Abigail Waters.

The dinner is being catered by Ripon High School and its Leadership Class students. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Children’s takeout meals are $10 each and general takeout is available from 6 until 7 p.m.

In addition to catering the event, the upper class students will serve the meals to their guests.

Mortensen noted that the annual dinner dance provides the Ripon High Leadership Program with funds to bring activities, guest speakers, rallies and professional tools to each of the Ripon High students.

“The benefit of such an event allows an impact to be made in our future generation of students. The support the community gives to our school is incredible. We are so grateful for all that they do for our program,” she said.

Sophomore Athletics Commissioner Hailey Johnson said the students begin working on the dinner dance months prior to the event. “It is a lot of hard work and planning, but it really helps us grow as leaders and as a class. It also feels great to know our hard work benefits the community,” she added.

A senior and student body vice president, Corey Winters noted that the dinner dance has developed quite a reputation within the class. “We all joke about how crazy it is and how stressed we all get, but we love the end product,” he said. “Nothing compares to seeing (the benefits of) our hard work, not only to help next year’s class but to give the community a fun event that we all enjoy.”

For those wishing to purchase tickets, they may contact jmortensen@sjcoe.net.