Dennis Schnader directed the Shikellamy band from 1968-1997. He poured almost 30 years of experience and excellence into me and other kids in this Pennsylvania town. He taught us that getting to the top required taking the "steps" up to the top and that there was no "elevator" there.

What band member doesn't remember the trademark yell "Yak-Sha-Mosh!" when we were pick up the pace as we wearily walked back to our places on the field to "try it again"? Which band member/s do not remember the pep talks he gave before one of the many State Championships we went to or the prayer he led us in before we played in Hershey, PA?

Because of Denny's dedication to us, we went all over the country: The Fiesta Bowl in Arizona, The Orange Bowl in FL, Carnegie Hall in New York City, and of course who could forget marching at Disney World in 1987? Other place beyond my years in the band was a trip to the Bahamas.

Denny showed each of us how much we were valued, and always had an open door policy when it came to a problem or something we needed to discuss! To some, he became like a dad, and for that, we thank him!

Denny once said:“There were three ingredients that made it all work,” he said. “There were great kids, an understanding and sympathetic administration and great community support.”

Denny missed one ingredient, and I will add the 4th ingredient now: A dedicated teacher who loved his students enough to drive them to succeed!

So Denny, We thank you from the bottom of the hearts you marched into! Your dedication reached beyond the fields we marched and the music we played! We may be all grown up, but we are still your kids!

God bless you!

Stacy Yeager Fisher

Class of 1991