The Russellville High School Marching Hundred did not return home from their recent trip to Atlanta empty handed.

The band, which participated in the Chick-fil-A Bowl Festival events this past week, came home with several awards for their performances.

According to Director Gary McNutt, the band participated in the Marching Band Field Competition held last Wednesday in the Georgia Dome where they competed against bands from Illinois, Michigan, New York and Florida.

The Marching Hundred performed their halftime show from this year’s football season and won the first place award for Division II. The band also earned all gold superior ratings.

“The judges for this competition were from Georgia Tech, the University of Illinois and the University of Ohio,” McNutt said. “This trip was beneficial to our program because it allowed our students and directors to be judged on a national competition standard.”

The band’s performance in the Chick-fil-A Bowl Parade through downtown Atlanta earned the first place award for Division II; the Best Overall Majorettes, Dance Line and Color Guard award; and all gold superior ratings.

“We are so proud of our students’ performances in the Chick-fil-A Bowl Festival,” McNutt said. “We received so many compliments from the judges as well as the fans from Florida State and South Carolina.

“I want to thank our school administrators for all of their support this fall as well as our community and sponsors. The student members of the Russellville Marching Hundred did a great job representing the city with their performance and behavior. They really made their directors and parents proud.”

Several members of the Russellville Band Parents Organization attended the festival events as chaperones and band parent Elliott Gordon agreed with McNutt’s assessment of the experience.

“The band did an outstanding job and represented Russellville High School well,” Gordon said. “This will be an experience that they will remember for the rest of their lives.”