The Logan-Rogersville High School Class of 2024 can now proudly call themselves Guinness World Record holders after the district recently set a record for the World’s Largest Game of Follow the Leader.
The record-setting attempt took place on April 24, but the official confirmation from the Guinness World Record Organization was announced only recently, with a public reveal during a football game on September 20.
Assistant Superintendent Jennifer Katzin noted that the district faced a five-month wait for confirmation, as the process required submitting substantial evidence for review. “We felt we had accomplished our goal,” Katzin remarked.
The game involved an impressive 2,348 confirmed participants, surpassing the previous record of 768 participants set in 2015. This achievement marks the second Guinness World Record for the Logan-Rogersville district. In 2011, Katzin, who was then the principal of the elementary school, led a successful campaign to set the record for the Largest Game of Duck Duck Goose, which included 2,135 participants.
This year’s theme centered around being “record breakers,” and Katzin reported heightened student interest in activities related to Guinness World Records. The seniors, who were in kindergarten when the first record was established, approached Katzin with the goal of surpassing the earlier Duck Duck Goose record.
“Initially, they aimed to break our record, but I encouraged them to keep that one and attempt to break a different record,” she explained. “That way, we could hold two records.”
On the day of the event, middle and high school students walked to the high school football field and track, while elementary students arrived by bus. The participants followed a winding path across the field in a single line.
Katzin emphasized that the endeavor required significant community involvement. Independent judges, comprised of adults who were neither district employees nor parents of current students, were essential for the event’s integrity, and many local businesses contributed employees to assist.
“It took a lot of community involvement,” she stated. “The weather turned out beautiful.”
Photographic and video evidence of the record-breaking attempt was captured and submitted for review.
Katzin noted that while the event and associated bragging rights were enjoyable, it served a greater educational purpose. “My biggest goal was for them to recognize that if they set a goal, they can come together and achieve whatever they set their minds to,” she concluded.
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