Strassenfest News

The 2023 Jasper Strassenfest Half Pot event has resulted in a donation of $23,074 to the Vincennes University Jasper Foundation.  The check was presented on Friday, September 22^nd to VU Jasper Director of Student Services, Mary Champion, VUJ Assistant Vice President and Dean, Christian Blome, and VUJ Foundation President, Dan Fritch, by members of the Jasper Strassenfest Half Pot Committee.

The donation will help to benefit local students through the VU Jasper Foundation’s Scholastic Excellence Fund with 18 Dubois County students to be impacted by the donation. The scholarship fund aims to help students begin their college journey with zero out-of-pocket expenses and without the need for loans. The donation of over $23,000 will help the VU Jasper Foundation provide area students with a one-year full tuition scholarship and fees for the fall and spring to include a $500 bookstore stipend per semester for books and supplies and a laptop computer.  “We are thrilled to continue our partnership with the Jasper Strassenfest committee for the third year.   The overwhelming support of community members who purchased half pot tickets has allowed us to offer full-ride scholarships to even more local students” shares Christian Blome, Assistant Vice President and Dean of the VU Jasper Campus. “We continue to see a significant increase in applications to the Scholastic Excellence Award Scholarship, reaffirming that area students are looking for financial assistance in their education. This donation will assist those students in continuing their education with the benefit of being close to home,” adds Dan Fritch, VU Jasper Foundation President

Thank you to all who participated in the many events held during this year’s Strassenfest. We are excited to share the results with you!

German Heritage performers will have important roles at the Open Ceremonies and on the Glockenspiel German Heritage Stage throughout the weekend! Click the link below to sign up!

Deadline is March 3. Limited to 18 Performers.

PRACTICE SCHEDULE

April 15 from 9:00-10:00am – Parents Required to Attend 1st Practice (JMS North Parking Lot) April 22 – German Clothes Fitting (Jasper Chamber of Commerce)
May 12 from 4:30-5:30pm (JMS North Parking Lot)
June 7 – German Heritage Performers Pictures (Studio Expressions by Jessica)
June 22 from 9:00-10:00am (JMS North Parking Lot)
July 15 from 9:00-10:00am (JMS North Parking Lot)
MANDATORY PRACTICE: JULY 16 @ 6:00pm (ACKERMAN OIL)
MANDATORY PRACTICE: AUGUST 1 from 6:00-8:00pm (STRASSENFEST MAIN STAGE)

For Questions Contact:

Valerie Heim ([email protected]) or Sherri Uebelhor ([email protected])

In addition to celebrating Jasper’s 2022 Strongest Town recognition, this year’s Strassenfest theme, “Strong Roots Grow Strong Towns” honors a group that has been integral in showcasing our history, the Redevelop Old Jasper Action Coalition. We wanted to share a little more about this organization and the work they have done to preserve the “Strong Roots” of our town.

In 2003, Dave Buehler gathered a group of civic minded individuals at the Riverwalk. At the time, their line of vision included a shelter house on the south side of the Patoka River, a dilapidated factory & kiln building, a gas station and a rock parking lot with a metal warehouse on it. Dave proceeded to share his vision of what the old area of Jasper could look like. And thus, ROJAC or Redevelop Old Jasper Action Coalition was born – with the main goal of providing economic development through tourism. The transformation began soon after ROJAC’s inception. With broad-based community support – volunteers, private & public donations, grants and local government – we have what you see today.

Because of this beautiful transformation, the goal of increased economic development was realized with the private investment additions of the River Centre and the Fairfield Inn, followed by the grand finale of the Thyen-Clark Cultural Center. 

All of this started with a vision from one man, Dave Buehler, along with past and present board members who have met monthly for the past 20 years.  The ROJAC board includes current & original members – Dave Buehler, Ken Sendelweck, Jim Siebert, Maureen Braun, Nancy Eckerle, Kim Lottes, Bill Schmitt, & Bill Kaiser, along with current members, Joe Rohleder, Mayor Dean Vonderheide, Tom Moorman, Kevin Manley, Lisa Gehlhausen, Todd Fromme & Whitney Lubbers.  Past board members include – Ken Sternberg, Ron Flick, Leon Fleck, Ken Schmidt, Terry Seitz, Mary Mehringer, Jerry Fuhs, Richard Pearson & Kristen Ruhe.

THANK YOU! From the ROJAC board for your continued support and investment in Old Jasper.