A trip with the Pride of the Dakotas Marching Band to the Florida Citrus Parade in 2011 left a lasting impression on Bill and Carolyn Hinks. The personalized Pride jacket Bill was given serves as a reminder of that experience. 

Eleven years and hundreds of thousands of dollars in gifts later, Bill wore the jacket again last October 29 as he and Carolyn rode in a bright yellow Ford Mustang as dignitaries in the Hobo Day parade, honored as The Friends of the Pride and earning a recognition that only a handful have ever received. 

Later that day, as the Pride completed its halftime show, the Hinks stood on the field of Dana J. Dykhouse Stadium next to Governor Kristi Noem to be recognized. The Pride jacket remained on. 

Thinking back to that Florida trip, Bill recalls the energetic yet respectful nature of the band members. “The time we spent with those kids was just amazing,” Bill said. 

Their support of the band includes scholarships to every sophomore and junior Jackrabbit that participates in the Pride. Their gifts purchased and installed the double-story director’s tower at the marching band rehearsal field, as well as the nearby storage shed for the Pride’s equipment. 

Presented with the opportunity to march in the 2022 Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, hundreds of donors stepped forward to subsidize the trip. 

SDSU’s administration insisted on providing a Division I experience for band members. That meant moving away from a past practice that required band members to sell raffle tickets to help pay their way. SDSU President Barry Dunn didn’t want anyone to miss out because of financial limitations. It also meant charter flights, instead of an arduous multiple-day bus trip that had been standard on past trips. 

Of the overall cost of $2,500 per student, each student paid only $500. 

The goal: Raise $750,000 in private funds. 

Bill and Carolyn Hinks provided $100,000. The South Dakota Department of Tourism committed $50,000 as a challenge match right before Hobo Day. Impassioned remarks by former drumline member Mary Howard to her fellow members of the SDSU Foundation’s Council of Trustees helped put it over the top. Howard, a 1984 physics graduate, was a member of the Pride when they performed at the inauguration of President Ronald Reagan in 1981. 

In all, more than 600 different donors combined to reach the $750,000 goal. 

The six-day itinerary included visits to Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum, and Times Square. The group took in a performance of the world-famous Radio City Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. It was the first time in New York for about at least three-fourths of the Pride members. 

The experience culminated with a 2.5-mile performance, three million spectators, and a television audience of 27.7 million.  

“They were absolutely the best band in the parade,” Bill said.  

“It flew by, that’s all I can say,” wrote freshman Mackenzie Hofer of Hitchcock, SD, who plays piccolo in the Pride. “I don’t think we had ever performed better than in those ninety seconds. As soon as we were off camera, it was like we all broke. One of my friends grabbed me in a hug. I heard several band members squealing. All around us, the audience was congratulating us. If I had to put a word to those first few moments afterwards, it would be ecstatic.”

“Our trip to New York was one of the best weeks of my life,” Mackenzie continued. “I am so grateful to Dr. Kevin Kessler, my fellow Pride members, and every one of the generous donors who made this experience possible. If I had to say something to myself a year ago, or to anyone else considering joining an extracurricular at college, I would tell them to seize the opportunity. The friends you make and the life lessons you learn are well worth the time. Try new things, and invest in what you’re passionate about! Trust me, you can gain unforgettable experiences with some really amazing people.”