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Hayden students eye tiger statue to show pride

Matt Stensland
Hayden Elementary School student council officers, from left, Kyler Campbell, Gracie Day, Wyatt Mortenson and Whittney Lighthizer are leading an effort to raise $2,800 to buy a tiger statue they want placed at the secondary school campus.
Matt Stensland

— While most elementary school student councils campaign for better food in the lunchroom, a group of Hayden fifth-graders wants to give back to their community.

To do this, they have set an ambitious goal of raising $2,800 to buy a tiger statue so they can show their school and community pride.

“There is enough school pride, but we just wanted more,” student Kyler Campbell said when talking about the project Wednesday.



Kyler is one of the four student council officers who are leading the effort. Whittney Lighthizer, Wyatt Mortenson and Gracie Day are helping Kyler in coming up with ways to raise the money.

The idea to buy the tiger statue came after a school assembly called The Unstoppable You. The assembly speaker was former Moffat County teacher Craig Conrad. He now speaks nationally, and his motivational program aims to empower students and to encourage them to achieve excellence.



The students said classmate Keenan Hayes had the idea to get a tiger statue. They found one at the Furniture Gallery of Craig and were able to guarantee a significant discount.

“It’s a life-size tiger,” Gracie said.

Hayden Valley Elementary School staff members Zach Wuestewald and Danielle Dellos are helping the students with planning fundraisers.

“Ambitious is a good word,” Wuestewald said.

They already have sold basketball game concessions and have raised about $600 toward their goal. In the coming weeks, the students want to hold a family dance. When the weather gets consistently nicer, they plan on hosting a runathon.

The students admit the project has definitely given them something upon which to focus.

“Without fundraising for the tiger, I don’t know what else we would do,” Whittney said.

The goal is to have the money raised by the end of the school year, and even though the elementary school students are raising the money, they want the statue to be placed more prominently at the secondary school campus along Jefferson Avenue.

“And, we won’t even be here next year,” Whittney said.

To reach Matt Stensland, call 970-871-4247, email mstensland@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @SBTStensland


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