By Abby Lundeen - PHS Mallet Staff
“Spreading Kindness One Person at a Time”
This is the goal of five Proctor High School students. Justine Johnson, Mariah Smolnikar, Haylee Cloutier, Jordan Wick, and Abby Lundeen started the “Pay it Forward” campaign for their DECA Public Relations project.
The project started this summer when eight Proctor High School students were selected to attend the Scott Anderson Leadership Forum at Superior Middle School this past June. This was a one week workshop for students in the Duluth area who have shown leadership skills in their community.
All schools were given the challenge of finding a way to better their school. That’s when the “Pay it Forward” idea was born.
When the week came to an end the students representing each school were encouraged to continue the idea in the upcoming 2008-2009 school year, and that’s exactly what Mariah Smolnikar, Justine Johnson and Abby Lundeen did.
With help from Mr.Belcastro, the three girls along with Haylee Cloutier and Jordan Wick turned this idea into a Public Relations Project for DECA, with the hopes of making it to Nationals in Anaheim, California.
To kick off the “Pay it Forward” campaign they entered a float in Proctor’s annual Hoghead Parade and the float was awarded first place. Next up was Bayview Elementary School, introducing nomination sheets and “I Likes” (an idea to spread positive comments among students). The kids were very receptive and numerous nominations have already been turned in.
To introduce the idea to the high school, the DECA team awarded their first nominees at a pep assembly in October. Derek Parendo along with Charlie and Russell Habermann were recognized for their good deeds in the community.
Each nominee will get a chance to be featured in the Proctor Journal and obtain little incentives from our sponsors. Upon accepting their awards recipients were encouraged to keep paying it forward as well as inspiring others to do the same.
Every nominee will get their “Helping Hand” up on a bulletin Board located in the hallway of the high school, and have a chance at being the Proctor Journal’s “Pay it Forward” person of the month. Upon receiving acknowledgment the students and community members will be more apt to do good deeds around the area.
Nomination sheets are available in both the high school and middle school offices along with the library.
Just remember that even ordinary people can do extraordinary things!
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