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Schools

Check This Out: Winning Grossmont Returns to Campus With $25,000

Parents and district officials cheer victors in Hurley company's "Walk the Walk" fashion contest.

A group of tired but giddy Grossmont High School students returned to campus as conquering heroes Friday after their victory Thursday in the Hurley Walk the Walk national fashion contest in Huntington Beach.

The 20 students, bearing a banner-sized check for $25,000, stepped off a bus about 12:30 p.m. in front of the school, cheered by parents, district officials and schools Superintendent Ralf Swenson.

The check was signed by Hurley founder and chairman Bob Hurley, with a smiley face. Hurley—which specializes in surf and beach fashion—is a Costa Mesa-based subsidiary of Nike Inc.

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The contest—once described as Friday Night Lights meets Project Runway—included finalists from across the country (and one from Toronto, Ontario): Peterborough Collegiate and Vocational School, Toms River East High School of New Jersey, Kellam High School of Virginia and Corona del Mar High School.

Team member Daniel Dossenger, a Grossmont water polo and swimming star who graduated in June, said: “We were so willing to have fun the whole time. We had the awesome Phantom Dance, and [the judges] liked the originality.”

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He said he and Tanner Harvey came up with the dance, which led to some in the crowd of 15,000 dancing the Phantom on the beach.

Said Harvey: “We all had the right attitude. We were in it to have fun. It was a great bonding experience, while trying to win money for the school.”

Erin Kownacki, another team member and an incoming senior, said: “It was all definitely worth it. But it went by so fast. The worst part was going last—and listening to the crowd cheer for other groups.”

Jeremy Hersch, faculty adviser to ASB, said: “Our fans were incredible. Everyone was doing a fantastic job and were very positive.”

KUSI taped the return for its afternoon and evening news.

The next step?

Hersch said they’ll cash the check and let the students decide what Associated Student Body projects they want to fund, “and do something good for the school.”

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