Students raise funds to benefit JDRF
Students at three Spokane Valley schools have reached far for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
A recent campaign started after parent Kris Heck talked to students at Sunrise Elementary, the school attended by her 8-year-old daughter Taylor Heck, who has Type 1 diabetes. At an assembly, the mom described how children live daily with diabetes.
Sunrise students then collected coins Oct. 15 through Oct. 19, raising $2,536. Their fund-raising efforts were joined by students at Heck’s neighborhood middle school, Evergreen, and at St. Mary’s Catholic School.
“We had great support,” said Kris Heck, who is a JDRF volunteer. “Every fall the JDRF does the Walk to Cure Diabetes, so my daughter and I fund-raise every year. This year we thought about getting our school involved.”
Heck also knows neighborhood children who attend St. Mary’s as well as Evergreen, so she spoke to people at those schools. St. Mary’s held a free dress day in October allowing $1 payment toward not having to wear a uniform to school. St. Mary’s students raised $397.
Evergreen Middle School ran a Dollars For Diabetes campaign through teacher Kim Trent’s leadership class. Students promoted and sold JDRF paper sneakers during lunch and raised $296. The sneakers with students’ names were posted around the school.
While counting coins at Sunrise, Heck heard many stories about children donating the entire contents of their piggy banks. Her own daughter did the same and also kicked in most of her birthday money.
“Some days, we counted as much as $700 to $800 in change,” Heck said. “I have endless stories about kids emptying their piggy banks so that they can help to find a cure for Juvenile or Type 1 diabetes.”
“Each day we’d count how much was raised, and I’d update a chart in the hallway. The kids learned a lot, and they gave a lot.”
She said four kids at Sunrise have Type 1 diabetes.
“Most of these kids lead normal, active lives, but their classmates might not realize how these kids live with diabetes 24/7, having to regularly monitor their blood sugar.”
“Type 1 never goes away until a cure is found. They are insulin dependent for life.”
FBLA students learn team building
Fifteen Future Business Leaders of America students at Central Valley High School recently spent a day at the Adventure Dynamics Outdoor Challenge Course.
The students worked on team building and learning more about themselves and each other. Planning, cooperation and teamwork are emphasized in the series of tasks made from logs, ropes and pulleys among pine trees.
The course also emphasized individual growth. With the encouragement of their peers, teachers and supervisors, the students conquered fears while attempting the challenges.
Lewis Rumpler, CEO of the Institute for Systems Medicine, provided a grant that enabled the FBLA members to attend the leadership training.
Students who attended included Mikala Locnikar, Janis Burner, Dylan Batungbacal, Morgan Hammon, Christina Liebman, Melayna Bruhn, Breahna Bacheller, Amanda Hartman, Chris Driver, Crystal Xie, Dallan Wagner, Josh Campos, Jamie Darnell, Natalie Shepard and Lauren Puhek.
Additionally, at the Oct. 24 Northeast Region Fall Business Leadership Conference in Spokane, students heard from keynote speaker Craig Ehlo, a former NBA player. Thirty-four CV FBLA members attended the conference where Ehlo, a 14-year NBA veteran, talked about his career journey including playing for the Houston Rockets, Cleveland Cavaliers, Atlanta Hawks and one year with the Seattle SuperSonics.
The students had the opportunity to attend sessions and workshops presented by several area leaders. Steve Yoshihara, vice president of Washington Trust Bank, presented a workshop on how to be a good employee. Chris Loseth, president/CEO of Potlatch Federal Credit Union, spoke on ethics. Scott Arnone, a national partner of Edward Jones, presented a seminar on investing in your future.
The Better Business Bureau informed the students on scams and ID theft. Also presenting was Judy Reynolds, executive director of Washington FBLA, on having a positive and successful job interview.
EV PE teacher earns state award
An East Valley School District physical education teacher has received a state award for her work.
Shelley Engel is the recipient of the Award of Excellence from the Washington Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance in the category of Physical Education. She was nominated by her peers in the Central Valley School District. EVSD staff Tammy Fuller and Shelly Houn also wrote letters of recommendation.
EVSD officials said Engel works to ensure that all students have the tools to live a physically fit and healthy life. Engel works at Skyview Elementary/CCS and at East Farms Elementary School.