KYLA Graduates 31 Members Wednesday
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
KYLA Graduates 31 Members Wednesday
By David [email protected]
During the ceremony, the graduates, KYLA board members and their supporters had the opportunity to hear about one Project Proud and from Biomet's Dr. Dane A. Miller.
Audrey Findlay and Erika Jansen, both Warsaw Community High School students, were chosen by the KYLA board to present their project.
Findlay said their project was "Dress for Success," which is a student closet. It provides clothing for students who are unable to afford basic clothing necessities. It is ran through the WCHS guidance office, and all clothing is bought new. Funding is provided through donations from corporations, individuals and organizations from around the community.
Their project started back in October when they sat down and came up with ideas with Kosciusko County Community Foundation Executive Director Suzie Light, Jansen said. Through Light, the students learned that one reason that caused students to be truant was lack of clothing. Jansen and Findlay then developed the idea for "Dress for Success".
After coming up with an idea, the girls started working to make the closet happen. Findlay presented a timeline of the events.
Highlights of the timeline include, on Nov. 5 and 8, they came up with the basic outline of the project to present to school administrators. They met again with administrative staff Dec. 11 to establish a location for the closet. Ten days later, the girls wrote letters to businesses and organizations asking for donations.
On Jan. 9, Findlay said, they filled out an application for a KEYS grant, which is still pending.
They've had three big shopping days. The first was Jan. 31, followed by one on Feb. 13 and Feb. 28. On Feb. 27, they had inventoried and prepared everything they had to move to the location at WCHS. On March 5, the girls moved the clothing into the closet.
Jansen said they went to the Breakfast Optimist Club on March 17, Kiwanis on April 28 and Women's Evening Meeting Circle May 3 to solicit donations for the closet and to get the word out.
Findlay said they spent more than 54 hours working on the project.
Jansen said the closet has a variety of sizes and styles.
"We do have a little bit of everything that can fit anyone's taste," she said.
The clothing is available to students at a teacher's or counselor's discretion. The counselor meets with the student to discuss their specific needs. The students remain anonymous to Findlay and Jansen, Jansen said, through a numbering process.
Findlay said they keep data sheets to track what clothing has been removed from the closet, as well as what is popular with students. If a student has a special request - like needs shoes - there is a request form the student can fill out. Findlay said they are usually able to fill the need within a week.
Some of their largest donations, Jansen said, include $2,000 from the Kiwanis, $1,000 from 1st Source Bank and $1,000 from the Dane and Mary Louise Foundation.
Besides applying for grants, Jansen said they are considering participating in the Pepsi Web site www.refresheverything.com in September. The Web site provides money to charitable organizations that get the most votes during a specific time period.
As of Wednesday, Jansen said, they've received $6,625 in donations and have spent $1,900 of it.
"We basically have students coming in every week, and it's growing," said Findlay. She said they did not realize how much fun and how much of an impact it was going to have on them, but it's worthwhile.
As they are only juniors, Jansen said they will continue the closet next year, and then recruit underclass to continue the project on in the future. An account at the high school has been set up to receive donations for "Dress for Success."
"This was just a prime example of what this class was able to do this year," said Tony Ciriello, KYLA board member.
Miller provided a fun and entertaining speech to attendees on "My Life in Pictures." The pictures shown during his talk are from his biography, "The Maverick CEO: Dane Miller and the Story of Biomet", written by Patrick Kavanaugh. Proceeds from his biography go to the foundation.
Photos included childhood pictures, his first car, his first mansion (a mobile home) and his first boat.
He talked about his path to co-founding Biomet, and about writing the entire employee handbook himself in 1979. In 2006, he said, Biomet's tax bill was a half million dollars every 4-1/2 hours.
Miller showed photos of him meeting former Presidents Ronald Reagan, George Bush and George W. Bush.
On Dec. 19, 2006, Miller said a public announcement was made that he and four companies were taking Biomet private. It took nine months to close the transaction.
Members of the KYLA Class of 2009-10 are: Wawasee: Andrea Banghart, Hayley Burns, Ian Donahoe, Eric Ewald, Alexis Linnemeier, Chelsea Los, Cassidy Parker, Krista Zurcher; Warsaw: Karla Batres, Shavon Brown, Wesley Craig, Audrey Findlay, Michelle Islas, Erika Jansen, Molly Pyle, Eric Tandy; Triton: Aubrey Boardman, Ryley Cripps, Austin Davis, Lindsay Ganshorn, Blake Lemler, Jamie Yungandreas; Whitko: Ayrianne Crawford, Isis Gaff, Christena Hoopingarner, Ashley Rudd, Alex Winger; Tippecanoe Valley: Abby Higgins, Natalie Webster; Lakeland Christian Academy: Brittany Hartwiger, Trishelle Rusinack.
Members Wesley Craig and Ayrianne Crawford were appointed to be KYLA board members for next year. KYLA President Barb Goslee said they were "charged with providing the board a youthful perspective."[[In-content Ad]]
During the ceremony, the graduates, KYLA board members and their supporters had the opportunity to hear about one Project Proud and from Biomet's Dr. Dane A. Miller.
Audrey Findlay and Erika Jansen, both Warsaw Community High School students, were chosen by the KYLA board to present their project.
Findlay said their project was "Dress for Success," which is a student closet. It provides clothing for students who are unable to afford basic clothing necessities. It is ran through the WCHS guidance office, and all clothing is bought new. Funding is provided through donations from corporations, individuals and organizations from around the community.
Their project started back in October when they sat down and came up with ideas with Kosciusko County Community Foundation Executive Director Suzie Light, Jansen said. Through Light, the students learned that one reason that caused students to be truant was lack of clothing. Jansen and Findlay then developed the idea for "Dress for Success".
After coming up with an idea, the girls started working to make the closet happen. Findlay presented a timeline of the events.
Highlights of the timeline include, on Nov. 5 and 8, they came up with the basic outline of the project to present to school administrators. They met again with administrative staff Dec. 11 to establish a location for the closet. Ten days later, the girls wrote letters to businesses and organizations asking for donations.
On Jan. 9, Findlay said, they filled out an application for a KEYS grant, which is still pending.
They've had three big shopping days. The first was Jan. 31, followed by one on Feb. 13 and Feb. 28. On Feb. 27, they had inventoried and prepared everything they had to move to the location at WCHS. On March 5, the girls moved the clothing into the closet.
Jansen said they went to the Breakfast Optimist Club on March 17, Kiwanis on April 28 and Women's Evening Meeting Circle May 3 to solicit donations for the closet and to get the word out.
Findlay said they spent more than 54 hours working on the project.
Jansen said the closet has a variety of sizes and styles.
"We do have a little bit of everything that can fit anyone's taste," she said.
The clothing is available to students at a teacher's or counselor's discretion. The counselor meets with the student to discuss their specific needs. The students remain anonymous to Findlay and Jansen, Jansen said, through a numbering process.
Findlay said they keep data sheets to track what clothing has been removed from the closet, as well as what is popular with students. If a student has a special request - like needs shoes - there is a request form the student can fill out. Findlay said they are usually able to fill the need within a week.
Some of their largest donations, Jansen said, include $2,000 from the Kiwanis, $1,000 from 1st Source Bank and $1,000 from the Dane and Mary Louise Foundation.
Besides applying for grants, Jansen said they are considering participating in the Pepsi Web site www.refresheverything.com in September. The Web site provides money to charitable organizations that get the most votes during a specific time period.
As of Wednesday, Jansen said, they've received $6,625 in donations and have spent $1,900 of it.
"We basically have students coming in every week, and it's growing," said Findlay. She said they did not realize how much fun and how much of an impact it was going to have on them, but it's worthwhile.
As they are only juniors, Jansen said they will continue the closet next year, and then recruit underclass to continue the project on in the future. An account at the high school has been set up to receive donations for "Dress for Success."
"This was just a prime example of what this class was able to do this year," said Tony Ciriello, KYLA board member.
Miller provided a fun and entertaining speech to attendees on "My Life in Pictures." The pictures shown during his talk are from his biography, "The Maverick CEO: Dane Miller and the Story of Biomet", written by Patrick Kavanaugh. Proceeds from his biography go to the foundation.
Photos included childhood pictures, his first car, his first mansion (a mobile home) and his first boat.
He talked about his path to co-founding Biomet, and about writing the entire employee handbook himself in 1979. In 2006, he said, Biomet's tax bill was a half million dollars every 4-1/2 hours.
Miller showed photos of him meeting former Presidents Ronald Reagan, George Bush and George W. Bush.
On Dec. 19, 2006, Miller said a public announcement was made that he and four companies were taking Biomet private. It took nine months to close the transaction.
Members of the KYLA Class of 2009-10 are: Wawasee: Andrea Banghart, Hayley Burns, Ian Donahoe, Eric Ewald, Alexis Linnemeier, Chelsea Los, Cassidy Parker, Krista Zurcher; Warsaw: Karla Batres, Shavon Brown, Wesley Craig, Audrey Findlay, Michelle Islas, Erika Jansen, Molly Pyle, Eric Tandy; Triton: Aubrey Boardman, Ryley Cripps, Austin Davis, Lindsay Ganshorn, Blake Lemler, Jamie Yungandreas; Whitko: Ayrianne Crawford, Isis Gaff, Christena Hoopingarner, Ashley Rudd, Alex Winger; Tippecanoe Valley: Abby Higgins, Natalie Webster; Lakeland Christian Academy: Brittany Hartwiger, Trishelle Rusinack.
Members Wesley Craig and Ayrianne Crawford were appointed to be KYLA board members for next year. KYLA President Barb Goslee said they were "charged with providing the board a youthful perspective."[[In-content Ad]]
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