School event favors charity in Asia
Hickman benefit to aid Cambodia.
By JANESE HEAVIN of the Tribune’s staff
Columbia Daily Tribunes (Columbia, Missouri, USA)
Courtwarming candidate Mike Hogan stands on a chair to solicit votes and donations, aided by Juyen Le, left, as Jazmine Tezak, right, and Keyonna Gordon buy cookies in a fundraising effort yesterday at Hickman High School. The Courtwarming candidates were raising funds for an English-language library in Cambodia.Some sold baked goods and hosted carnival games, but senior Mike Hogan put himself on the auction block yesterday in a Hickman High School fundraising effort to help build an English-language library in Cambodia.
For just a buck, Kewpies could buy a raffle ticket for a chance to accompany Mike, 17, to the Courtwarming basketball game tomorrow night against Logan-Rogersville and the post-game dance. As of yesterday, about 15 students had purchased tickets, and Mike promised to treat the winner to a nice dinner before the event.
"I’m not going to cheat," he vowed in front of his "Win a Date With Mike Hogan" banner. "If I get a guy - and some guys have bought tickets - I have to go with that guy."
Mike and a dozen other Courtwarming king candidates are raising money for the Teachers Across Borders campaign. The library would be the first school library with English books in Cambodia since the four-year genocide in the 1970s that killed roughly 2 million residents.
"Crimes against humanity are always things I’m interested in," Mike said. "I hope people realize what is happening there through this project."
Through tomorrow, the king contestants are setting up booths during the lunch hours to generate donations. This is the first time kings have gotten involved in a service project, said Jami Thornsberry, a social studies teacher coordinating the activity. It’s modeled after the school’s annual homecoming fundraiser in the fall, which calls for queen candidates to raise money for charities of their choice.
"If the girls do it, the boys should, too," Thornsberry said. "Service needs to be tied into this event."
Although the boys hadn’t set a financial goal, by yesterday they had raised $3,000. "They’re in good shape," Thornsberry said. "I’m really thrilled with them."
In the school commons yesterday, other candidates used more traditional methods to raise money for the cause - selling baked goods, hosting carnival games and simply asking their peers for spare change.
Candidate Jeremiah Lotven, 18, played the bass guitar with other musicians from the school’s Academy of Rock group in hopes of inspiring students to drop tips in a hat.
"We’re just kinda having fun," Jeremiah said. "I don’t really expect" to win.
Tying a service project to a social event gets more students involved, Thornsberry said. Those not sure which candidate should be crowned king could base their vote on how much money the individuals raise.
Junior Claire Friedrichsen, 16, said she doesn’t plan to attend Courtwarming and is indifferent to whom is named king. But she bought some snacks from a candidate because she likes the idea of raising money to support the effort in Cambodia.
"It makes it worthwhile," Claire said. "And it makes it more fun."
Senior Allison Meyer, 17, helped several candidates with their fundraising efforts. After buying cotton candy at one booth, Allison bought a raffle ticket for her chance to win a date with Mike.
"It’s for a good cause," she said. Allison said if she actually wins the date, "It just means I have to buy a dress."
The king candidates agreed that they’re more interested in having fun and raising money than they are being crowned king.
"If I win it, I win it. If I don’t, I don’t," said Jay Jay Johnson, 18. "I’m just raising as much money as I can. It’s always good to help others."
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Reach Janese Heavin at (573) 815-1705 or jheavin@tribmail.com.
For just a buck, Kewpies could buy a raffle ticket for a chance to accompany Mike, 17, to the Courtwarming basketball game tomorrow night against Logan-Rogersville and the post-game dance. As of yesterday, about 15 students had purchased tickets, and Mike promised to treat the winner to a nice dinner before the event.
"I’m not going to cheat," he vowed in front of his "Win a Date With Mike Hogan" banner. "If I get a guy - and some guys have bought tickets - I have to go with that guy."
Mike and a dozen other Courtwarming king candidates are raising money for the Teachers Across Borders campaign. The library would be the first school library with English books in Cambodia since the four-year genocide in the 1970s that killed roughly 2 million residents.
"Crimes against humanity are always things I’m interested in," Mike said. "I hope people realize what is happening there through this project."
Through tomorrow, the king contestants are setting up booths during the lunch hours to generate donations. This is the first time kings have gotten involved in a service project, said Jami Thornsberry, a social studies teacher coordinating the activity. It’s modeled after the school’s annual homecoming fundraiser in the fall, which calls for queen candidates to raise money for charities of their choice.
"If the girls do it, the boys should, too," Thornsberry said. "Service needs to be tied into this event."
Although the boys hadn’t set a financial goal, by yesterday they had raised $3,000. "They’re in good shape," Thornsberry said. "I’m really thrilled with them."
In the school commons yesterday, other candidates used more traditional methods to raise money for the cause - selling baked goods, hosting carnival games and simply asking their peers for spare change.
Candidate Jeremiah Lotven, 18, played the bass guitar with other musicians from the school’s Academy of Rock group in hopes of inspiring students to drop tips in a hat.
"We’re just kinda having fun," Jeremiah said. "I don’t really expect" to win.
Tying a service project to a social event gets more students involved, Thornsberry said. Those not sure which candidate should be crowned king could base their vote on how much money the individuals raise.
Junior Claire Friedrichsen, 16, said she doesn’t plan to attend Courtwarming and is indifferent to whom is named king. But she bought some snacks from a candidate because she likes the idea of raising money to support the effort in Cambodia.
"It makes it worthwhile," Claire said. "And it makes it more fun."
Senior Allison Meyer, 17, helped several candidates with their fundraising efforts. After buying cotton candy at one booth, Allison bought a raffle ticket for her chance to win a date with Mike.
"It’s for a good cause," she said. Allison said if she actually wins the date, "It just means I have to buy a dress."
The king candidates agreed that they’re more interested in having fun and raising money than they are being crowned king.
"If I win it, I win it. If I don’t, I don’t," said Jay Jay Johnson, 18. "I’m just raising as much money as I can. It’s always good to help others."
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Reach Janese Heavin at (573) 815-1705 or jheavin@tribmail.com.
3 comments:
I am proud and grateful for you to do that.
Thanks
Bless your heart everyone! You are the best!
Thank you and God bless you all.
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