Iola High’s leadership class got an early Christmas present Wednesday morning, a $1,500 check from Walmart. JUST RECENTLY leadership class students hosted district kindergartners at the Recreation Community Building in Riverside Park.
Making the presentation to the class of 28 students and instructor Regina Chriestenson were Jeff Livingston, Walmart manager, and Shandie Wrench, a department manager.
Livingston learned about the many things the leadership class does during a Chamber of Commerce “See, Hear Iola” session, where Stacey Fager, IHS principal, spoke about the positive effects the class has had on students and the community.
“Jeff came up afterward and said he was impressed with what we were doing and thought he could get us some financial help through Walmart,” mentioning the possibility of a $1,000 grant, Fager said.
Walmart did better. Livingston and Wrench showed up at Iola High Wednesday morning with the $1,500.
“They had a banquet for the kids and then had games and crafts,” Chriestenson said, topped off with a play about Rudolph, Santa’s red-nosed reindeer. Her drama students wrote and performed the play.
Funding such as that provided by Walmart paid for the event, as well as warm scarves and gifts for each kindergartner.
Among other projects have been family fun nights at the downtown Iola farmers market; maintaining bulletin boards at the high school; help with Farm-City Days activities; and a Lincoln Elementary holiday festival.
Several spring semester events are pending, including a fundraiser for Allen County Animal Rescue Facility, as well as projects to help other non-profit groups.
The class, comprised of mainly juniors and seniors, was started to give students a means to hone leadership skills and character behavior.
“It’s been very successful,” said Fager.
The class was started five years ago by Jodi Grover, then an IHS counselor, to expose them to projects for the betterment of the community.
Chriestenson, also drama and forensics instructor, joined Grover last year and took the class reins this year, when Grover left to be an assistant principal at Maize Middle School. She happened to be in Iola Wednesday for a meeting, which gave her opportunity to see the Walmart grant awarded.
“Jodi was instrumental a year ago in Iola High getting a $60,000 Safe and Supportive Schools grant and comes periodically for meetings concerning that grant,” Fager said. The grant of federal money administered by the Kansas Department of Education supports encouraging activities for students.
Her husband, David Grover, stepped away from the Iola High principalship at the conclusion of last school year to become superintendent of schools at Cheney, about 35 miles west of Maize.
IHS leadership class gets financial boost
