Principals 'kiss a pig' to reward students

For three weeks, from March 2-20, students at Mountain Home Junior High collected $1,500 in change for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Pennies for Patients Program.

The program is one of the society's national school and youth programs that raises funds to find cures for leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease, myeloma research and patient services. The program was introduced to the school and coordinated by speech teacher Jeanette Reynolds.

To educate students about blood cancers, Reynolds' speech class watched a Charlie Brown cartoon provided by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Reynolds said most students were not aware of blood cancers and when students decided they wanted to participate in the Pennies for Patients program, other classes joined them in promoting the project.

To raise awareness of the need, students in Mr. Starkey's communication class produced commercials that were aired daily on the 9:55 a.m. news show at the school and Mrs. Jett's leadership class made posters that were displayed throughout the school.

On a spur-of-the-moment inspiration Reynolds decided to add additional incentive for the students and asked Vice Principle Sherri Ybarra and Principle Bill McCarrell if they would agree to kiss a pig in a school assembly if the students could raise $1,000 or more.

Reynolds said she suspected that, "since the goal was so high, they thought they were safe in agreeing to kiss a pig."

She said the competition between classes to collect the most money became heated and every class in the school collected and brought in change.

Some students even elected to send letters to businesses asking for donations.

Among the businesses that contributed to donation requests by students were: Best Western and Sleep Inn, Jeff and Gayle Palmer, Cinder Cone Farms, Jason Reynolds Trucking, Jerry and Sandee Hitesman, and Minder Rental Account, Farmers Insurance, Jack and Rachelle Ruffing, and Sid and Kim Wing.

Walmart made a donation of an additional donation of $1,000, bringing the total collected to $2,500.

Eighth-grade student, Olivia Moreno collected $90 by herself.

Reynolds said, "the kids felt good about being able to do something to help people. It isn't often they have a chance to take part in something like this." She said they were impressed with the amount they were able to raise.

Raising the goal and heating up the competition, Principal McCarrell challenged students to collect an additional $250 during the last week of the funds drive. He agreed to allow his head to be shaved by students and, while he is known as an ardent Vandals fan, agreed to allow BSU initials to be painted on his head.

At an April 3 school assembly, Vice Principal Ybarra and Principal McCarrell recognized and praised the students for their efforts and, as agreed, attempted to kiss a pig.

However, the pig had not agreed to allow itself to be kissed, even by school principals, and protested the attempt.

At the end of the assembly, McCarrell sat in a chair and allowed his head to be shaved.

Chelsea Young, Campaign Manager for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's Pennies for Patients Program was presented with a check for the collected funds at the assembly. Young said she was impressed with what the students had accomplished.