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Life Lessons… Change
for Change
By Chris Mortensen, Principal
Greenville High School
This fall we attended a leadership conference
with a handful of our student council members. This conference
was sponsored by the Anthony Munoz Foundation. The conference
gave these young leaders a challenge to act in their local communities
and school to tackle a concern of their student body.
The conference brought this small body of
students together and helped them recognize how a handful of students
could make a huge impact touching thousands of people. The
students developed the idea that they wanted to help students graduate
without fear because of unpaid school fees. As the student
council rallied behind this cause it quickly expanded to all students
throughout the district to help those incapable of raising funds to
cover their fees due to hardship.
The student leadership organized this cause
behind their theme of “Change for Change.” Jars were set up
in the individual schools and local businesses to collect funds for the
cause. Local area businesses made donations for additional
expenses along with shirts the student council designed. These
shirts were then sold with monies obtained going into the collection of
funds for the cause. Support was also given by area businesses
who purchased advertisement on the shirts. The council also put
on a fundraiser competition for the students and staff and offered a
“Jeans Day” connected with staff donations in a couple buildings in the
district.
In the end, the student council was able to
raise approximately $5,000 to be used in assisting students in
financial need with their fees. Two of the council’s leaders met with
the administration to discuss policy for application of funds and
student requirements. Checks were disbursed to each of the
individual buildings and an account set up as a continued challenge for
community, families and school groups to further this exceptional
challenge in years to come.
The Student Council thanks the community,
local area businesses as well as the students and staff of Greenville
City Schools for caring and supporting their efforts to bring “Change
for Change” to Greenville. There is still an opportunity for the
Student Council to obtain a $1,000 or $2,000 check from the Anthony
Munoz Foundation. The project was submitted recently to the
organization for consideration of this honor. The student
council’s efforts will be evaluated. The selection will be made
based on breadth of impact and involvement of the project in the school
and community.
On behalf of Greenville High School student
council and the administration we would like to thank all who were
involved in making a difference. Thank you for caring enough to make
“Change for Change.”
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