By J1 Reporter Maddie Waters

The individual fundraising aspect of Walk-A-Thon (WAT) is oftentimes the key element that can help a class to meet their goal in time. 

Many students took advantage of the month-long fundraising period to raise money in their own ways. Sophomore Kaylin Petersen had the idea to go door-to-door in wealthy Omaha neighborhoods, asking for donations and raising awareness about WAT. Keeping this in mind, Petersen set out in the affluent Linden Estates neighborhood, and was able to make $230 over the course of two days. 

Petersen said she believes that her success came from her making the effort to point out not only the financial benefits of donating to WAT, but the personal benefits as well. “This is not just a fundraiser. This is tuition assistance directly affecting people,” Petersen would say as she spoke to potential donors. 

Being on scholarship herself, Petersen chose to do this not only to help her class meet their goal, but because she knew the direct impact it had on her. WAT money is “super important to me, because the more [money] that we get, the less that I’m going to have to pay,” Petersen said.

While Petersen chose to spread the word about WAT to strangers, sophomore class officer, Ella Watton, turned to notifying her close family and friends.

Watton “contacted close to 20 people” via text, where she would say “what Walk-A-Thon was, what it was for, and why getting this money was important to [her].” She also remained consistent with keeping tabs on the people she had texted by checking up on them to ensure they knew what was going on and where their money would be going. 

Many of these people were “excited to help out,” compelled to donate by Watton’s meaningful messages and impressive consistency. In total, Watton was able to raise more than her $200 personal goal for the sophomore class by branching out to those close to her.

Walk-A-Thon is a crucial part of the Marian experience for many students, and would not be possible without individuals striving to bring in money for their class using create and cunning personal strategies.