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April 26, 2007
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Messmer students apply teachings
to help Waukesha team |
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Catholic school fund-raiser helps public school's
academic decathlon team make it to national meet |
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| Waukesha West students Grayson Butler, left, 17, Emmi Line, 17, join Messmer Catholic High School students Anthony Brown, 16, and Melvin McElrath, 17, as they serve up spaghetti dinners April 23 at Waukesha West High School. (Catholic Herald photo by Allen Fredrickson) |
WAUKESHA — For many parishes and schools, funds are raised and camaraderie is shared over plates of spaghetti in a school cafeteria or church hall. For members of Waukesha West High School’s academic decathlon team, the spaghetti dinner held April 23 meant the difference between competing at the national level and staying home. And there would have been no chance of competing had it not been for the National Honor Society students at Messmer High School in Milwaukee.
After reading a newspaper article about the state champion academic decathlon team at West not being able to afford the $10,000-trip to compete at nationals in Honolulu, students in Messmer’s National Honor Society wanted to help.
Messmer’s volunteer business teacher Bob Monday suggested raising funds for the team.
“From the students’ viewpoint, they saw it as students helping students,” said Monday. “Part of the National Honor Society’s mission is service. This is something they feel strongly about. They were pretty positive about it from the beginning, but (needing to) raise $10,000 was shocking.”
“They thought what a shame it was that they didn’t have the funds for nationals,” said Jane Koepke, Messmer’s director of advancement. “One student brought up the idea for a spaghetti dinner. (After taking) it to the Waukesha West adviser, I think shocked would be the expression, and also thrilled.”
Duane Stein, Waukesha West’s academic decathlon coach, has coached the team to all of their six consecutive state titles. The team won the national championship in 2002.
“The generosity is overwhelming,” said Stein, referring to Messmer students. “What a splendid spirit these kids are displaying and they’re teaching us a lot. We’re hoping this is a relationship we can continue and, at some point, step up and help Messmer.”
Stein said he is also thankful that his students could focus on preparing for the academic decathlon instead of fund raising.
“Messmer allowed us to do what we should do and that’s study,” he said.
The Messmer students’ original plan was to raise money for the spaghetti ingredients with a “jean day” — charging other students and faculty to wear jeans to school. Surprisingly, almost all the food needed was donated by individuals and businesses. The Messmer students had a different plan for the money raised. On the day of the dinner, they traveled by bus to meet the West students and help cook, serve, clean and present Stein with a check for $1,000 that the students raised on jean day.
Monday estimated that more than 900 meals were served and more than $5,000 was raised from the dinner alone. The event also included a silent auction, and an appearance by the Klement’s Racing Sausages.
Koepke said location for the dinner was critical.
“I think it was important that it be at Waukesha West because it’s supporting those students,” she said. “We want their community to support it.”
Koepke said it is not unusual for Messmer students to work to help a school with which they haven’t had an affiliation.
“Their actions say everything,” she said. “Our students are very thoughtful students. Though many don’t have the financial resources themselves, they realize it’s not always about signing a check, but taking action and thinking outside the box. To those familiar with Messmer, this is not shocking.”
Waukesha West senior Tim Heimlich said when he realized how much money the team would have to raise for their trip to nationals, he figured he’d have to do a lot of fund raising.
“They came to the rescue,” Heimlich said of the Messmer students. “I couldn’t come up with a thank you eloquent enough. They’re helping us so much. We’re all very taken aback.”
John McCarthy, a Waukesha West student clad in a Messmer T-shirt, said he understands how rare such an occasion can be.
“I thought it was a great outpouring of support,” he said. “It’s really inspiring. It’s pretty rare.”
While talking with McCarthy, Messmer student LaNisha Patterson said, “We’re seniors so we want to leave this year doing something good for people outside our community.”
Not only were West students grateful for the fund raising efforts of Messmer, but teachers at the school were as well. Special education assistant Marie Brink came to support the cause and to enjoy the dinner.
“We are so grateful and appreciative,” she said. “We’re all so appreciative of all the work put into this and the thought. It means a lot to our school and the community. This is one of the best spirits I’ve ever seen.”
She then told a group of Messmer students, “Thank you for doing this for our school. You guys are amazing.”
Before the dinner began, Messmer students were given tours of Waukesha West High School and the students from both schools played a game of four-square in the courtyard.
“Being from a Catholic school, we help others in need,” said Messmer student Jasmine Porter.
“We felt that since they did so much hard work that it wasn’t fair not to go to nationals,” said Messmer senior Ronisha Taylor.
“This will help change the perspective on us because some people think Milwaukee is a bad place,” said Quaisha Hunter, a student at Messmer.
Waukesha West High School issued a statement about the Messmer students:
“The fact that one school will stand up to help another school, the fact that an urban private school will organize and fund raise for a public suburban school is heartwarming and a gesture that should not be ignored.” |
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