Woodburn Independent Online

GHS students set a new standard

Gervais High School students raise over $18,000 for Kids Making Miracles for Doernbecher Children's Hospital

• Published: 3/16/2010 10:50:08 AM

Photo By: Lindsay KeeferMr. and Miss Gervais
Frank Belleque (right) and Katelyn Steinkamp were crowned Mr. and Miss Gervais 2010 on Saturday at Gervais High School. The annual event raises money for Kid’s Making Miracles at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. This year Gervais set an all-time record of over $18,000.

GERVAIS — Gervais High School has raised more than $18,000 for Doernbecher Children’s Hospital through Kids Making Miracles, a record amount since the Mr. and Miss Gervais Pageant’s inception 10 years ago.
 
The high school has been raising money through the pageant since 2000, when 15-year-old student Jovita Reyes, a Doernbecher patient, died from leukemia.
 
“We started off small and got bigger and bigger,” said pageant adviser Terry Witter.
Reyes’ parents crowned the 2010 Mr. and Miss Gervais, Frank Belleque and Katelyn Steinkamp, at Saturday night’s event.
 
The 10 finalists solicited donations and Belleque alone collected more than $4,000. Combined, the contestants collected $17,090 through coin collecting, sending letters of support and selling items.
 
“We’ve never set a goal,” said Witter. “It’s about raising money but also recognizing outstanding seniors.”
 
The remaining finalists, who are all seniors nominated by staff, include Anthony Castenada, Andrew Martinez, Anthony Medina, Chris Navarro, Adriana Gonzalez, Elizabeth Hernandez, Katy Isiordia and Yareli Zamora.
 
They participated in judged events, including casual, athletic and formal wear segments, a talent show and a question and answer session. The contestants also competed through the amount of money they raised for three months leading up to the event, which was emceed and coordinated by high school students Angela Kudrna and Betsy Paniagua.
 
Pageant judges were Peter Littlefield, assistant director of admissions at Willamette University, Libby Crawford, director of the Mrs. Oregon contest, Sara Nilles, student activities director from Newberg and Oregon Association of Student Councils board member and state Senator Peter Courtney.
 
Gervais High School has been raising money for Doernbecher since 1992 and the pageant isn’t the only event to raise money.
 
The district also held student versus staff basketball games and the freshman dance contributed proceeds for the hospital.
 
“Both were great events and helped contribute to a great cause,” said Superintendent Rick Hensel.
 
Collectively, the activities raised $18,301.47.
 
About one-third of Gervais High School students voluntarily participated in fundraising activities in some way, Witter said.
 
“Even last Thursday and Friday I had kids who hadn’t been assigned anything coming up asking, ‘Can I still help?’” he said.
 
“Every year is special … with the number of kids who want to get involved. I would say since we’ve started the joint pageant it’s become a community activity and the high school students look forward to supporting Doernbecher.”
 
He said the support often comes because of familiarity with the charity.
 
“We’ve had several students who have been patients,” Witter said. “Most of the students and staff know kids who’ve been patients or they’ve been patients themselves. It’s growing to be a really important contribution they feel they’re making to society.”
 
Last year, the school raised about $17,000. The school has donated $85,000 throughout the past 10 years.
 
“There are over 400 schools that contribute to the hospital and, despite its small size, Gervais is perennially in the top 10,” said Hensel.

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