Model breaks record in Kids Heart Challenge

Dani Messick, Goshen News, Ind.
·2 min read

Mar. 28—GOSHEN — Breaking another record, Model Elementary Students raised $11,000 as part of the American Heart Association's Kids Heart Challenge program.

As a reward for their hard work, which included education and fundraising efforts, high earners threw pies at teachers and even gave an ice bath to some in front of their peers on Thursday morning.

Building on key learnings from nearly 45 years in America's schools, the Kids Heart Challenge focuses on whole-body wellness, helping students improve their own health and better their character while raising life-saving donations for the American Heart Association to help kids facing heart health issues.

Among the grades, fourth graders raised $2,874.47, setting a record in their own right, while third graders raised $3.865.05 and second graders raised $3,989.97.

Students who raised the most were Ana Sofia Barahona, with $1,066.46, Sofia Quezada with $923.34, and Finnick Munoz with $920.49. The three top earners also got to shove a pie in the faces of their Model Elementary School teachers. As the top funds raiser, Sofia Barahona will also have the school's gymnasium named after her for the next year.

The number of students who completed Finn's Mission also doublde this year from last year. The more than 42 students were: Alice Akers, Beau Barkes, Zoey Bjorkland, Mason Brandon, Lian Carmona, Randy Cortes, Ayden Deal-Hussey, Evalyn Dominguez, Leom Dunker, Emily Flores-Avila, Logan Frantom, Katalina Gonzales, Laney Henry, Emma Jones, Anna Kauffman, Sophia Kauffman, Deacon Kilmer, Kristin Kratzer, Santi Leos, Hayleigh LaMunyon, Harrison Linn, Mackenzie Maust, Sadie Maust, Cambria Mielke, Bellamy Munoz, Finnick Munoz, Lorelei Munoz, Avery Norment, Jordan Norment, Sofia Quezada, Logan Reiff, Destany Santillan, Aaliyah Riffle, Adam Schmucker, Isabella Schneider, Kristen Schneider, Ahliya Sheen, Allie Shisler, Sawyer Short, Sayla Stewart, Trayce Stewart and Emmett Wolfe.

Teachers who completed Finn's Mission were: Terri Blosser, Brittany Buckmaster, Alexandra Coy, and Heather Turner. Including the teachers, 46 people at the school completed Finn's Mission, a series of activities that includes learning hands-only CPR.

For meeting their goals, students also got to give ice baths to PE Teacher Terri Blosser, Assistant Principal Ellen Longcor, and Principal Krista Troyer.

Dani Messick is the education and entertainment reporter for The Goshen News. She can be reached at dani.messick@goshennews.com or at 574-538-2065.