By J1 Reporter Amira Thomas

Walk-A-Thon, an ever-changing student fundraiser tradition, has taken many different forms throughout its history.

Starting off, the student monetary goals for Walk-A-Thon (WAT) have changed a lot. In the early 1990s, instead of class goals, Student Board was more focused on individual goals. In 1990, each student was asked to bring in $35. However, this number grew quickly. According to the article “Walk-A-Thon from an Alumna’s Perspective” written by Katie Zinna when she was a J1 student, by 1993, students were tasked with raising $60 each. Although seemingly more precise, individual goals wouldn’t last much longer.

WAT goals began to become class-oriented as early as 1994. Mr. Mark Koesters, former Student Board moderator, said, “About 1994, or somewhere in there, it changed to class goals, and it was because we’re having such a hard time meeting the all school goal. We needed some incentive to get classes motivated for each other.”

The class goals were put in place, as well as linked to Field Day so that students would be motivated to bring in more money. In the history of the event though, the funds have always gone to supplement student scholarships and offset the cost of tuition.

The student methods for raising money have also changed drastically throughout the years. In the early 1990s, students didn’t have car washes, or food nights to collect money for WAT. Koesters said, “When I was doing it, it was basically students going door-to-door.” Most students would knock on neighbors’ doors, dig into their pockets, or beg their parents for money. As time went on, students began utilizing other methods of getting cash, it started off with lemonade stands, and expanded from there. 

Rewards have also changed from small prizes, to big cash. In the late 1980s and early 1990s prizes were small items or gifts. Small prizes would be earrings, or teddy bears, but the bigger the donation, the bigger the prize. Entering into the late 1990s they switched to cash prizes as a stronger motivator for students to make their goals. Despite the many changes in prizes, Koesters said that a Free Day has always been one of the prizes if students brought in enough money.

WAT methods have changed drastically throughout the years, but the overall goal to raise money for tuition assistance has stayed the same.