SPHS Students Raise Over $1,200 For Breast Cancer

Severna Park High School (SPHS) students participating in SkillsUSA, a workforce development organization, orchestrated a project to raise funds in support of breast cancer awareness in October. The project was spearheaded by five students: Nyla Chestnut, Parker Carroll, Brooke Barnes, Kendall Williams and Grace Lopez.

As of late October, the SkillsUSA students had raised over $1,200. They worked in conjunction with the school’s football team, led by head coach Nick Marks, and came up with the concept of an MVP Wall of Champions. Students, faculty and the community could donate to the cause, and for every $2 donation, a pink football would be placed on the wall with their name or the name of someone they know who has been touched by cancer.

It was a great way to create a shared experience and teach students that whether good or bad, everyone can find a common connection. Over the course of a week, SPHS “punished” administrators. For every $200 raised, one administrator was doused in Gatorade during the Falcon 30 Block. It was live-streamed to the rest of the school.

The students raised $900 during the week, so Principal Nate Johnson and Assistant Principals Staci Cassarino, Justin Gardner and Tracey Stakem took the plunge and were drenched in Gatorade by SPHS football players. The project was titled “Ignite your Potential: Gatorade Gridiron Splash.”

During the football team’s October 18 shutout versus Severn Run, students set up a display and raised additional funds to get to their total and promote awareness. All proceeds will be donated to the NFL's Crucial Catch, a program that promotes cancer prevention and early detection, and the American Cancer Society.

The link of the student-run video can be viewed on the “SP Productions” YouTube page.

SPHS’ varsity boys soccer team also supported breast cancer awareness in October by packing comfort kits for the nonprofit Pinked Perspective.