Phones are ringing off the hook at Stillwater Christian School.

The Kalispell private school announced Tuesday afternoon that Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow will be the featured speaker at Stillwater Christian's community banquet March 7.

Since then, calls have been pouring in from people wanting tickets.

"I think this is the longest stretch without the phone ringing right now," Director of Development Craig Hunnicutt said in a phone interview Wednesday morning. "It's been about 30 seconds."

Many of those calls have been from people outside the Kalispell area, he said. And nearly all have been from people ecstatic to hear the pro quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner is making a stop in the Flathead Valley.

"Folks on the phone have been excited to be part of this. ‘How in the world did you pull this off? This is the greatest thing ever,'" Hunnicutt said, recounting some of the comments he'd heard Wednesday morning.

How Stillwater Christian pulled it off dates back to last fall when the school contacted Tebow to see if he would be available for the banquet. The school worked through an agency that has helped secure other big names for its banquets in years past, including former Georgia Gov. and U.S. Sen. Zell Miller and retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col. Oliver North.

"The folks we bring are making an impact in the field that they're in, in more ways than just occupation. They have a message for the time we're living in," Hunnicutt said.

North was the last person to speak at Stillwater Christian's "For Such A Time As This" event in 2007, Hunnicutt said. Since then, the school has held other events in place of the banquet.

But this year, Stillwater Christian decided to try to bring back the banquet. The school submitted a request last fall and got the good news about Tebow's acceptance right before Christmas break, Hunnicutt said.

The school asked Tebow not because of his celebrity status but because of his Christian faith, he said. The quarterback is setting an example the school urges its students to follow.

"He has garnered a reputation [as] a player who gives a public profession of faith at every opportunity," Hunnicutt said. "We would be encouraging our students, wherever they find themselves in life, to live out what they believe."

That Tebow is very much in the spotlight right now is just a bonus, he added.

"It's a lot of fun to offer the community something that so many people are getting excited about," he said.

Hunnicutt admitted he's one of those excited people.

"It's kind of a big deal. It's definitely the biggest thing we've done," he said. "To personally be part of it is exciting, rewarding."

Tebow's stop in Kalispell will be his third in Montana in as many days. He is scheduled to speak in Billings March 5 and in Great Falls March 6.

"That probably helped us get him here, because he has other engagements in Montana," Hunnicutt said.

Hunnicutt would not discuss how much the school paid Tebow to speak or go into many details of the contract he has with Stillwater Christian. The contract does, however, limit the appearances Tebow can make in Kalispell.

"He is here for our event, from this time to this time, and we are obligated to abide [by] that," Hunnicutt said. "There is no leeway to, say, stop by a kid's birthday party or a school or go skiing with you during the day."

That's true even at Stillwater Christian, he added; the school can't schedule a time for Tebow to speak during the day.

But at least 2,000 people will have the opportunity to hear him speak that evening.

"For Such A Time As This: An Evening with Tim Tebow" will be held at the Flathead County Fairgrounds Trade Center.

Hunnicutt said the school has mapped out banquet seating for 1,400 people.

Tables of eight are priced at $1,000 each ($125 a seat). Sponsorship tables are available starting at $2,500 and include tickets to a private reception with Tebow before the event and autographed copies of his book, "Through My Eyes."

So far, people have been interested in both options, Hunnicutt said.

"We've been swamped this morning at every level. We've sold a bunch of those thousand-dollar tables," he said.

There will also be a less expensive option to allow students and youth groups to participate, he said.

For $35, students can buy seats in the bleachers to hear Tebow speak. Those tickets don't include dinner, but Stillwater Christian wanted to give young people the opportunity to be part of the event.

"There's no question; part of what he's all about is the appeal to kids, to youth," Hunnicutt said. "To not include those students doesn't make much sense."

He estimated there are between 600 and 800 bleacher seats available.

Proceeds from the event, minus expenses, will benefit the school.

Tickets for all tables and bleacher seats are available at Stillwater Christian School. Starting Jan. 18, tickets for tables also will be available on the school's website, stillwaterchristianschool.org.

For additional information or to reserve a ticket, call Hunnicutt at 752-4400 or email him at chunnicutt@scscougars.org.