By J1 Reporter Nika Kouassi

Walk-A-Thon, a beloved tradition at Marian is an integral step into a girl’s assimilation into Marian culture. It is an all school fundraiser aimed towards helping support financial aid and tuition assistance. The 4-week process embodies the Marian Spirit and shows off students’ competitive sides while reaching their class goal. This year with 588 students enrolled at the time of Walk-A-Thon, Marian girls raised $150,093 of their $105,000 goal and received a color party after their whole school 2-mile walk.

However, not many people know how Walk-A-thon is planned each year and how not only is it an administrative effort, but it is also jointly planned with Marian Student Board, specifically with the Student Board Vice President. 

Student Board Vice President, senior Ashley Mercer explains: “My role starts with finding a theme. I kind of coordinate with the rest of the Student Board members like what their roles are, reaching out to different businesses, I design the shirts [that the whole school wears the day of Walk-A-Thon] I call the returning sponsors…the ones that have sponsored us a lot in the past.”   Mercer said that her job is mostly general organizing and connecting with Student Board moderators, gym teacher Mrs. Beth Dye and math teacher Ms. Jessica Abel for financial information.

Some of this information includes how the class’s goals are distributed and the all school goals needed to help with financial aid costs. When it comes to contacting outside donors, making the official Walk-A-Thon shirt, and deciding the fundraiser theme Mercer’s process begins in the summer. “ I knew as soon as I was elected to be Vice President that I wanted to do Color WAT, but I officially decided on the theme in June…I did have a few other contenders for WAT this year, but I did feel compelled to do color WAT since in my highschool career there had not been one yet and I wanted to do something outside of water/bubble themes. It was definitely my favorite theme.”  She started the process of shirt desgning in July she recalls working on several shirt designs, whether it was “tweaking the design or completely starting new. I probably had at least 10 variations of t-shirt designs,” Mercer said.

She also composed the letter that went out to students and the Marian community about the reason for the fundraiser and the goals.  She had templates from past years to use as ideas, but tried to put her own voice and spin into it. “I wrote the letter using my own voice, and wanted to encourage people to become excited for WAT season, while also having knowledge of the purpose of the fundraiser. I also understand that it can be a lot to feel pressured to bring in $60+, so I wanted students to feel like they could be creative with fundraising tactics.”

Mercer said one thing she wishes people knew about Student Board’s involvement in Walk-A-Thon was that Student Board does more than what people think. “Having 10 people to call between the hours of 3-5pm is a tight time frame and a lot of us have something after school.” Mercer and her Student Board peers divided up a list with over 100 businesses in the Omaha area and individually called at least 10 businesses and asked them if they would consider donating to Marian’s Walk-A-Thon. Some sponsors donation can get them on the back of the official Walk-A-Thon shirt. “Businesses can get their logo or name on the back of the WAT shirt through monetary donation or donation value…We send out a letter with the various benchmark values, and what benefits that entails for the sponsor.”  

Mercer’s extensive work and planning along with her Student Board peers has paid off with positive reviews from students and faculty and their experience in Walk-A-Thon. In regards to next year’s Walk-A-Thon one way students can help Student Board and Marian overall, is soliciting the name of any business/cooperation/company that could donate to Walk-A-Thon to any Student Board members or Student Board moderators Mrs. Beth Dye and Ms. Jessica Abel.