The students, who are all part of Business Professionals of America Legal Management program at Batavia High School, won the award for the largest school group to participate in the plunge and raised more than $5,000 for Special Olympics.
“Some kids you would never think would do this want to,” Angie Kovacs, legal management teacher, said. “They really get excited about it. They raise money themselves and they have to get sponsors just like a walk-a-thon.”
Kovacs, who also participated in the plunge, said the club contributes to Special Olympics as part of their service project each year. She said this is the second year the club has participated in the Polar Plunge, which is Special Olympics’ largest fund-raising event.
“It’s really fun,” Hunter Meadors, president of the BPA club, said. “We try to get the whole BPA program involved. It is a really good cause and we love doing it.”
Meadors said students enjoy the participating in the plunge not only because it is a fun and laid-back event, but also because of how important the cause is.
“When you think about that, and the money you’re raising, you know you are doing good,” Meadors said.
Meadors, and the other students, raised money by getting people to sponsor them for the plunge. All together Students raised more than $5,000 for Special Olympics and came in fifth out of 104 teams for money raised.
“At first it was hard,” Sierra Donaldson, a sophomore, said about raising money.
Donaldson said it became easier though, especially after she researched Special Olympics and was able to explain to potential sponsors what the organization does and how a donation could help.
“It makes me feel really good because I know we raised a lot of money for a good cause,” Donaldson said about the end result.
Donaldson, and the rest of the BPA students, gathered to celebrate their efforts and took the plunge at 11 a.m. Feb. 4 at Joes Crab Shack in Bellevue, Ky. In teams of four, students leapt into the ice-chilled pool and exited as quickly as possible to nearby heated tents where they were able to change back into warm clothing.
The cumulative efforts of organizations, businesses and schools across Ohio and Kentucky, including Batavia High School BPA and a team from Clermont County Juvenile Court, raised $120,926 for Special Olympics this year.
The organization is the world’s largest program of sports, training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, and the money raised at the plunge will help support the efforts of Special Olympic athletes in Kentucky and Ohio.
“Getting this many people together for one cause is special,” Meadors said about the event. “It makes you feel like you are part of something bigger than yourself.”
For more information about Business Professionals of America contact Angie Kovacs at kovacs_a@bataviaschools.org and for more information about the Polar Plunge contact Anna Beth Logan at ablogan@soky.org or Amy Kute at amykute@hotmail.com.