Published: March 26, 2008 10:58 am            

Classmate remembered

In memory of a lost friend and classmate, students and teachers at Stillwater High School joined forces in a successful fund-raising venture.

SHS Student Council members and FFA members decided to raise money in memory of Matt Wilkerson, the likable senior who died this past December in a mobile home fire. The money would be presented to Matt’s parents.

“Student Council wanted to do something to honor Matt Wilkerson and help out his family after their loss,” said Heather Storm, Student Council secretary.

“We decided to raise money so we could plant a tree by the new FFA building in his honor.

“We placed buckets around the school and raised $192 at that time.”

The venture gained momentum when SHS administration and faculty agreed to a challenge with the students.

“In order to raise additional funds, two students, Justin Ebert and Bob Clougherty, along with Mr. Schaefer (Scott) volunteered to have their pictures placed on buckets and the person receiving the most money during the Winter Carnival would have his head shaved,” said Kayla Burden, FFA president.

Vocational-agriculture instructor Billy Foote raised the ante when he agreed to shave his head if the students raised $1,000.

Uwe Gordon, SHS principal, joined in the challenge when he agreed to have his head shaved if $1,500 was raised.

At the Winter Carnival, students raised $250. Goals were reached at the FFA’s annual dinner and auction. The students raised $1,088.

At a pep assembly, Gordon, Foote and Schaefer allowed the students to shave their respective heads.

A check in the amount of $1,530 was presented to Matt’s mother, Kelly, at the assembly.

“We will always love and remember Matt and admire the way he lived his life and his sense of humor,” said Burden.

“If I was ever having a bad day all I had to do was see Matt to put a smile on my face.”

Storm said, “We will always remember Matt, the smile he would put on our faces, the great times we shared and the lessons we learned from him.”

Seeing the shaved heads of his high school principal and two vo-ag teachers would, no doubt, have left Matt Wilkerson with a huge smile on his face.

        

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