Tradition adds a cut for charity

West Valley High School senior Ryan Staley was at the mercy of his peers armed with scissors and an electric razor Thursday.

The Associated Student Body vice president sold raffle tickets to students for a chance to cut his hair. He orchestrated the stunt to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and hopefully win back the Golden Throne from East Valley High School at tonight’s spirit competition and basketball game.

“It’s like losing a good friend,” Staley said. “But if we can raise a few extra bucks, I’ll take a needed haircut.”

Staley, who turns 18 today, allowed five of his fellow students to shave two years’ worth of golden locks that fell just below his shoulders off his head while the student body looked on, cheering. His mom got to take the first clip.

“He looks like my little kid again,” Ann Staley said.

The two schools compete every year during the competition for a coveted toilet, also known as the Golden Throne. The idea is to show how much spirit each school has, and how much money they can raise for the nonprofit organization. The competition takes place during the boys’ and girls’ basketball games.

For the past two weeks students at West Valley have been collecting donations through their “chuck it in the bucket” event. Students walk around the school daily with big orange buckets, asking for spare change. Staley offered them a chance to cut his hair. So far the students have raised $500. The money will go to a local family found through the foundation. Staley said the family has a young child suffering from a terminal illness.

“They try to find people in the community that really need the help,” said Jamie Nilles, West Valley boys’ basketball coach. “They do a great job every year.”

During the competition, each school usually takes on a theme. This year, West Valley’s theme is based on the Austin Powers movies.

“I’m going to be Dr. Evil,” Staley said. So being bald made sense. The nefarious character from the Powers movie is bald.

But even after his free haircut at the school assembly Thursday, Staley still needed some work to get that “Mr. Clean” look.

By the time the five winners, and his mom, were done shaving his head, Staley looked like he’d had an accident with the clippers. A few long strands remained in the front. In the back, somebody shaved a single row close to his head, and left the rest.

Staley didn’t seemed to mind.

“Yeah baby, yeah,” the teen said.