Two groups of seventh grade students from Maryville Middle School are learning they can make a difference in their world.
Deb Still, industrial tech teacher at the middle school, said the students are using many of the basic skills they have learned throughout their years in school.
"These students went through the EmPower program at St. Joseph at the beginning of the year," Still said. "They are actually using language arts skills and other basic skills they have learned. They are also learning professional skills as they make phone calls and talk to people who can help them with their projects."
Still said the students actually feel empowered by the work they are doing.
"They feel like they can really make a difference," she said.
The groups are working on two separate projects. One group is helping the New Nodaway Humane Society and the other is working to prevent zebra mussels from becoming a problem at Mozingo Lake.
Students in the animal shelter group are: Christopher Dougan, Ethan Graham, Devin Vinzant, Kendra Henggeler, Conner Hetzler, Sarah Henggeler, Lindsey Suchan, McKenzie Wallce, Ali Throm, Jordan Scechan, Cami Heath, Chelsea Byland and Rachel Roush.
Students involved with the Mozingo Lake project are: Travis Wardlow, Cheyenne Snow, Madison Driskell, Josh Springer, Breanna Sorensen, Danae Burrughs, Hunter Hawthone, Michelle Antrim, Ben Goecken, Matt Woolery, Victoria Heffner, Jacob Williams and Kraig Tanner.
The animal shelter group is concerned about overpopulation at the shelter and the cramped conditions. They are encouraging pet owners to spay or neuter their pets and for those who do not own pets, they encourage them to adopt one from the shelter.
The group is working on getting grant money to sponsor a spay and neuter program –– giving pet owners the opportunity to spay or neuter their pets at a reasonable price. A couple of the grants the students have applied for are the Gladys Rickard Foundation Grant and PetSmart Grant.
The buddy system part of the group is putting posters around the school and a number of businesses throughout town encouraging area people to become buddies for animals at the shelter They are also working on a Valentine Tree with the hope that some of the animals will be adopted. This group also had a fundraiser and provided more than $180 for the animal shelter –– enough to support one animal for more than a year.
The group is organizing a Game Night to take place from 7 to 11 p.m., Friday, March 27, at the middle school and will cost $5. They plan on having Wii, Guitar Hero, Dance Dance Revolution, a concession stand, games in the gym and music. There will be a raffle and the $5 charge at the door will go toward chances on the raffle prizes. All other raffle tickets will cost 50 cents. All proceeds from the game night will go to the New Nodaway Humane Society.
Maryville, Mo. —
