News Story by Ava Weis
UDPATE: The last day to bring in donations is Monday, Sept. 23. Online Donations can be made at: https://www.givecampus.com/schools/MarianHighSchool/marian-walk-a-thon-2024
Walk-A-Thon, known as WAT, is an annual fundraising event in which classes compete in friendly competition in order to raise money for tuition assistance.
The money raised from WAT provides girls with the opportunity to experience the community and education that our school has to offer. As Principal Susie Sullivan frequently reminds students, “All of the money raised goes back to the students.”
The class that has the highest donation percentage gets first choice for Field Day color, theme and Demonstration order, bringing back this tradition that was paused last year.
The WAT kick off was held on Aug. 20. Kick off is where the theme of WAT is announced, as well as the class goals and overall school goal.
The theme of WAT this year is a “Glow Party” and the party itself will be held in the gym on Sept. 27 with black lights and neon accents.
The overall school goal is $105,000. If the students go above and beyond their goal, there are additional prizes based on how much money is raised. For example, if students raise $120,000, there will be a food truck outside of Marian on the day of WAT.
The class goals are all different based on the class size.
This year, the senior goal is $22,689. The junior goal is $24,511. The sophomore goal is $27,658, and the freshman goal is $30,142. Money can be donated online anytime between Kick off and the day before WAT. Cash collection days were every last day of the week in September before WAT.
Walk-A-Thon requires a great deal of preparation to get ready for the big day. Class Officers and Student Board members help to create ways for each class to earn money. A couple of these methods are kick back nights at local restaurants, lemonade stands, garage sales and car washes.
Student Board Co-Moderator, Jessica Abel, is one of the brains behind much of the WAT preparation. She says that the planning begins in late July when the Student Board sends out letters to Omaha businesses asking for any monetary donations or prizes that would keep the girls motivated. During this time, the theme is also chosen and the t-shirt designs begin to be created.
Ms. Jessica Abel
“The funds are used to help bring down the cost of a valuable education for all students. WAT showcases the Marian core values in action through community, service, and empowerment
specifically.”
Student Board Co-Moderator
Abel said that WAT is extremely important to the Marian community because “The funds are used to help bring down the cost of a valuable education for all students. WAT showcases the Marian core values in action through community, service, and empowerment specifically.” Without Walk-A-Thon, many girls would not be able to receive a Marian education.
WAT is not only planned by one person but instead is planned by a community of Student Board members, business office staff members and teachers. Abel said that the Student Board Vice President each year is the chair of WAT. This year, that is senior Darian Jones.
Jones, with the help of other Student Board members, “are busy each week making follow up phone calls to the businesses that were sent a letter and also visiting some of those businesses to pick up any donations,” Abel said.
There are ultimately many moving parts, and everyone must do their part for everything to run smoothly. Abel’s favorite part of WAT is seeing how creative each class gets as well as seeing the classes come together to help each other out.
On the day of WAT, school is not in session, and the girls all wear matching shirts to show school spirit. In previous years, the distance each class walked was based on how much money each class raised. As of last year, every grade now walks the same route to show school unity.
The route leads the girls back to Marian where there is a party in the parking lot or in the gym to celebrate raising money for tuition assistance and all of the hard work the girls put in over the previous months to raise money.
In order to get this celebration, the girls must meet the overall school goal. The WAT party has a different theme each year, some including Foam WAT, Splash WAT and Color WAT. The celebration at the end of the walk is always highly anticipated.
Walk-A-Thon is an exciting tradition that involves a lot of preparation and strategic thinking. From planning bake sales to making shirts, WAT can be a stressful time with a rewarding goal of tuition aid.
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