Credit to Jordan Ousley

A silhouette resembling an Elysian showcase

A new monthly event called the “Elysians” has emerged at FHN all from a basement conversation between senior Jordan Ousely, and junior Kailynn Bockerstette.

“Me and Kailynn had just started sort of doing dances and modeling in my basement, just for funsies, then it just grew into something way bigger, like a whole event,” Ousley said.

The first mention was during winter break when Ousley and Bockerstette put on dancing, singing and modeling performances just for fun, then it blew up into a full-on social event. They had a small get-together with other students including junior Vegas Harry, Erin Susic and Chris Brandt, who have all now become keystone members of this event.

“I couldn’t have done it without my team,” Ousley said. “Host Erin Susic, host Chris Brandt. I was obviously the MC and the event coordinator, my chef and bartender Vegas Harry. I also couldn’t have done it without Kailynn, she really built the idea that Elysians was
based around. I could not have done anything without them.”

The next and most recent event took place Jan. 24 at Ousley’s house and had upwards of 20 guests, several judges and even a made-up restaurant that provides the catering service. Guests followed a dress-up theme all wearing emerald and gold.

“It took me and Chris about a week to plan. We just started off with what theme we wanted,” Ousley said. “We decided on an emerald and gold theme, that’s when we decided how we wanted to set up the venue. We came out with a menu and figured out everything we wanted to incorporate.”

When guests arrived they were treated with food from the event’s very own catering service called “Gummy Tackanos.” Ousley and Harry worked together to pick out the menu, buy ingredients, meal prep and cook the meal. Spending over $200, the meal was nothing short of a feast.

“Me and my friends made up this fake restaurant to cater for Elysians called ‘Gummy Tucanos’,” Ousley said. “I made a red and white cajun pasta, we had garlic bread, salad with a light balsamic vingarette, toasted ravioli for appetizers and we had a chocolate fountain with marshmallows and rice crispies to top it off.”

Not only do guests watch performances but they also take part in them. All things ranging from carpet dances to “Arabian Nights” to runway modeling take place. These are all judged by a panel of judges which counts towards the awards later in the evening.

“Jordan used to be the only person who would perform, and then I broke out of my shell and did it,” Harry said. “Most people would come and be so scared to perform and then they would just branch out when they saw everybody else do it. Jordan’s energy had a big impact on people.”

At the end of the event performers are all up for the chance to win one of the six awards handed out. The awards cover all the bases with an overall award called “The Grand Elysian,” and other more niche awards including “Designer of the Year,” “Model of the Year,” “Performance of the Year,” “Innovation,” “Elysian Voice” and the “Best Dressed.”

“It was just amazing [to win the grand Elysian award] because I had practiced so long and attended so many Elysians and never won any awards,” Bockerstette said. “I never won any awards and that time I got it because I participated in all of the categories.”

While the event already has a good turnout, and a staff of dedicated event coordinators and hosts, they only plan on going up from here. Hosting another event in March the group all has visions for the future of Elysians. From growing amounts of attendees to adding more awards, it’s safe to say that big things are coming.

“We had four people to start and then it grew to 10 and then more like 17 people, were thinking of renting an event venue just for the night and having a giant Elysian gala, but we’re still planning,” Ousley said.