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CURTIS OSTRANDER	DUAINE HARDING
ELEANOR TODD	ELMER "BUD" HAHN
GERVASE KILEY	MARGARET ZIEMAN
MARIAN SUTTON	ORLO KIRKUM
SLAVA KOKOTOVICH
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CHARITY WEEK. Above, from left, Romeo High School Student Council members Elizabeth Iwanski, sophomore; Steve Tolomei, senior; and Shazia Ijaz, junior, show some of the ways the school is raising money during Charity Week to help a local soldier. The school has held sports tournaments and classrooms are competing to collect the most change in water jugs for Penny Wars.

(Observer photo by Chris Gray)

Students band together to
raise money for soldier

by CHRIS GRAY
Observer Staff Writer

      Romeo High School (RHS) students are rallying their fellow classmates to support a soldier who has fought for their freedom.
       The school's annual Charity Week is well on its way toward reaching its goal of $10,000 to give to U.S. Army Spc. David "Alex" Knapp.
       Having begun on Monday, with the final day on Friday, students and staff have immersed themselves in a number of fund-raising activities all planned by Student Council.
       Amber Fountain, RHS counselor and Student Council sponsor, said the council puts it together, but also reaches out to other groups like National Honor Society or Peer Mediation for help.
       "It's a time where all the major groups are all coming together and they each kind of do their own part," she said.
       Shazia Ijaz, a junior and member of Student Council, said when a number of history classes wrote letters and sent care packages to soldiers, they were inspired to help a local serviceman with Charity Week.
       "When the school comes together to focus on one goal it's the best time of the year," she said.
       Knapp was the unfortunate victim of an improvised explosive device (IED) attack while serving in Iraq, which caused him to lose his legs. The community stepped forward to help him out, as he was the recipient of a house built by Homes for Our Troops.
       RHS Student Council members attended the ceremony when Knapp received the keys to his home. The money they'll raise will help Knapp with his expenses and other needs.
       "I think it's nice to help out people who have served our country," said Steve Tolomei, a senior member of Student Council. "We should help out someone who gave up what he did and fought for our freedom."
       Of course, the students have done so while having some fun. On Monday students played against one another in a volleyball tournament, and did something similar on Tuesday with a dodgeball tournament.
       New this year is a packing party on Thursday, where students will team up with Michigan Military Moms to prepare care packages for soldiers.
       "Each second-hour class is trying to bring in the most supplies," said Fountain.
       The event that usually attracts the most students is Thursday evening's "Mr. Bulldog" contest, a sort of mock beauty pageant for male high school students.
       "I'm competing<I mean, winning it," said Tolomei with a smile.
       The week will end on Friday with a pep rally, with games, performances by cheer and dance teams, and a presentation of the check to Knapp.
       "When we present a check or tell someone how much money we raised for them it's really rewarding to see the look on their face or how grateful they are, and the whole school gets to see that, not just Student Council," said Ijaz.