This year, there has been an influx of projects for the club Global Scholars that are helping many different organizations. To be a part of the club, you have to participate in a language for three to four years at the high school. You also need to read four books, watch four movies, and do four cultural experiences, and write reflections about each on their cultural meaning and education. You also need to complete a service project with at least 20 hours of logged hours helping those who need it. Many students have recently been completing their projects, with significant donations going to all of their organizations. If you complete all of the requirements along with additional senior reflections, you will be honored at graduation with a cord and moment of recognition. The professor said that it’s best for students to start on the requirements early so that they don’t have to stress when senior year comes around. Happening this year for Spanish 3 and 4 students as a part of GEAC is a spring break trip to Costa Rica. This is when the funds raised by students here will be donated to schools in Costa Rica.
Grace Edenborg and Maddie Horvath raised money for the Pink Box Project through a trivia night hosted this November. The Pink Box Project is a group helping women in third-world countries with period poverty. There were different topics ranging from Latin American Culture to Menomonie History. Teams of up to four could compete together to win a prize of Crumbl Cookies. They had a donation page for extra donations, and that alone reached $300 by the time the fundraiser was done. Admission into the event was $5 a person, and they collected $251 from this, with many donating more than necessary. So by the end of the event, they raised $551 for the organization. They said they chose this project because “As women in America, we know how fortunate we are to have products available to us. But we know this is not the case around the world.”
Chloe Renfree Weiss and Jenifer Rash also raised money for the Pink Box Project, but they did a bake sale instead. They raised $240 for the organization at the end of their sale by selling different types of brownies, muffins, bars, along with chocolate chip cookies, brookies, yogurt cups, coconut balls, and more. Their rationale was wanting to make a difference for young girls struggling because many do not have the support they need. Chloe said, “I had a good support system that helped me with all my hygiene necessities. I was taught how to use hygiene products, given education about why women have periods, taught how to deal with period pain, and more.” She also mentioned that “All of this information helped make my menstrual cycle more comfortable and less anxiety-inducing. Every woman deserves this same treatment,” which was why they picked this organization.
Wren Swaenepoel and Bryce Shepard raised money for a school in Costa Rica by doing a bake sale. At the end of their sale, they ended up raising $507 for the cause. They sold puppy chow, brownies, Rice Krispies bars, pumpkin bars, Fruity Pebbles bars, scotcharoos, and Oreo balls at their sale. Bryce said that while he cannot go on the Costa Rica Trip later this year, he wanted to raise money for the students because it is “a cause that isn’t just giving a website money but a situation to create a positive impact for these children in front of my classmates’ eyes.” Even more, he said, “Being a part of global scholars, you are really encouraged to look at life through the lens of others, and hearing of how I could help those lives thousands of miles away seemed like an awesome idea.”
Isabel Sorenson and Caitlin Dunbar also raised money for the School in Costa Rica. At the end of their sale, they raised $200 for the cause. They sold many baked goods from different types of cereal bars to scotcharoos, brownies, Christmas cookies, monster cookies, and the crowd favorite, puppy chow. Their rationale for picking this cause was being able to hand the school the money themselves. Caitlin said, “[We] are super excited to give them the money and spend some time with this school in need.” During the trip to Costa Rica, students will also be able to do many other fun activities, such as hiking.
Maggie Winsand, Mariah Curtis, and Aubrie Dowd raised money for the Pulsera Project. This is an organization that provides bracelets made by people in third-world countries that are then sold by others, and the money made goes to the creators. They are able to use the money for daily living costs, scholarships, education, and community projects. At the end of their sale, they raised $125 for a cause. Mariah said that they wanted to raise money for the Pulsera Project because it was for a bigger cause, helping the artisans who made the bracelets and also the bags that they sold. Mariah also said, “We encourage others to also participate in this project.”
Kenna Nowlen, Mya McMahon, and Tehya Johnson raised money for the School in Costa Rica. They ended up raising $236.5 for their cause though a bake sale selling a variety of sweet treats. Kenna said that they ended up raising money for it because Profe brought this idea to them. She said, “We thought it was a really good idea after looking at it more. We really wanted to help the schools in need.”
After we get back from break, Porsha Lee and Chrystina Kue are going to do a project along with Dylan Watkins and Reagan Singerhouse, and we are looking forward to seeing what these will be and the impact that they will have.
