Walking, running, tugging and Hula-Hooping to make school fundraising history

Kent City elementary students raise record funds for their school

By Allison Poosawtsee

October 26, 2022

KCEWalk10 — Sarah Goldner’s fifth-grade class give it their all in a tug-of-war as part of Kent City Elementary’s annual fundraiser

photography by Dianne Carroll Burdick

Kent City — On a sunny fall day in northern Kent County, Kent City Elementary School students took to the district’s brand new track to walk and run in their school’s sixth annual KCE walk-a-thon.

“The walk-a-thon is our only community fundraiser for our school, and this was a record year!” said Administrative Assistant Debra Williams.

From left, first-graders Oliver Sanchez, Dylan Gonzalez and Abelardo Gonzalez Vasquez try to move the beach balls on a parachute

Kent City second-graders Anabelle Pike, left, and Madeline Gomez compete in a race during the school’s walk-a-thon

Altogether, students from KCE raised $42,000 for their school. Williams says that while teachers and administrators are still deciding how to spend the unprecedented proceeds, 100% of the funds will support teaching and learning at the school.

Second-grader Makenna Mourer loves Hula Hoops

First-graders Joyce Buckner, running at left, and Carli Bremmer compete in limbo

The walk-a-thon wasn’t just about walking around the track, adds Williams: “Students of all grades enjoyed participating in a variety of activities that included games, dancing, music, movement and most of all … FUN!”

From left, second-graders Kolton Watkins, Marek Umlor, Finnegan Glynn, Ryder Sluter and Emmett Thomas run with their Hula Hoops around a tackling dummy on the football field’s new artificial turf

Monica Moore’s second-grade class uses Hula Hoops to form a snake

To end the event, the award-winning Kent City High School Marching Band serenaded the students with the school’s fight song.

From left, second-graders Brayden Davison, Walter Kaminski, Emmett Wahlfield and Julian Obenauf race with their class on the new track

Fifth-grader Lucas Mourer does the Hula Hoop swivel

Sara Schutt’s first-grade class listens to the Kent City High School Marching Band perform the school fight song

Fallynn Knowlton jumps for joy after the girls team wins in tug-of-war

Madeline Aldinger’s third-grade class runs a 50-meter race

Explore more unique video stories of students learning, interesting school programs and educators working to help all children succeed.

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Allison Poosawtsee

Alli Poosawtsee is a writer who made her home in West Michigan after spending her childhood living in the former Soviet Union and Germany. She served as the editor-in-chief for Calvin University's student newspaper and then spent nine years as a writer and content strategist at her alma mater. Both of her children attend Grand Rapids Public Schools and she is an ardent supporter of public education.

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