Every year, the drama department hosts the “Ben Nelson Comedy Night,” a night full of student-produced comedy. The talent is great, but one question lingers through the heads of many: who was Ben Nelson?

Ben Nelson was a student who carried great significance to theatre. “He was here when we opened up and he helped with the program,” Principal Dan Serrano explains, and Nelson’s former teacher, Jim Fountain, agrees.

“He was a very special part of the theatre program here. He liked to do puppets and do children’s theatre,” Fountain remarks. “He liked to be in the plays, he did tech theatre. ”

Nelson was also known to have a dramatic side outside of theatre. “I remember he had a very dramatic side,” explains sophomore Samuel Nelson, Nelson’s younger brother. “Anything he talked about he’d usually get really into it.”

Unfortunately, tragedy struck Nelson and his family while traveling to a family function.

“A tire blew on the van and he was thrown from the van,” says Fountain. “He was the only member of his family that did not survive the crash.”

Years later, the Nelsons make theatre a family affair. “My older brother Nathan was a part of this, now I’m a part of this,” says Samuel. “So, its kind of nice to pick up where he left off.”

The memory of Nelson is what makes the showcase in his honor an important event. “I think because it’s so important to them, that’s why it’s so successful,” Serrano comments, “it’s always been run well and well attended.”

Along with well attended, the show is always changing. “It started out being sort of a variety show,” Fountain comments, “and, it’s evolved now into this whole improv, comedy fun night,” .

Along with the comedy extravaganza, the proceeds from the show fund a scholarship in Nelson’s honor.

“The scholarship goes to a theatre student who excels in three areas: in acting, in technical theatre, and in [personal] character,” Fountain explains, “because Ben was all of those things.”

Ben Nelson comedy night will take place on May 1, 2015.