By J1 Reporter Jolie Hefflinger

Marian’s Student Board worked diligently from July to September on all aspects of Walk-A-Thon, including the t-shirts that are provided for all students and staff. Walk-A-Thon is a huge deal at Marian, and the t-shirts bring in great amounts of support from the community and provide a sense of unity for the whole school during the day of Walk-A-Thon. 

The sidewalks were filled with shirts of many colors this year, with each color representing a class. The freshmen wore green, sophomores wore yellow, juniors wore blue, seniors wore pink, and the teachers wore orange. 

Student Board Vice President, senior Darian Jones, alongside her other StuBo members, collaborated together on all aspects of Walk-A-Thon, including the t-shirts. Jones explains she “wanted to make a t-shirt that people would actually rewear.” Off of that idea, she went with a simple design and incorporated the Glow theme by choosing neon colors, which students could wear again, anytime they wanted.

T-shirts can be expensive, but with the help of local businesses who helped sponsor the t-shirts, StuBo was able to provide everyone with a free t-shirt. The t-shirts cost $4,009 in total, each averaging $5.75-$7.75, depending on the size. Jones states “they’re not cheap t-shirts, so that’s why it’s so important to get our sponsors, because we do not want to make girls pay.” 

The 17 sponsors that helped cover the cost of the t-shirts were featured on the back of the shirt, with 11 of those sponsors being Marian friends and family, showing their support.

For StuBo to find these sponsors, there is a spreadsheet of possible businesses that may be willing to donate. Jones recalls how StuBo members, “divvy that up and make phone calls reaching out, asking them to give money.” 

Thanks to Darian Jones and all the StuBo members, Walk-A-Thon ran smoothly, and all students and faculty wore their t-shirts in unison, showing the core value of community, while walking together during Walk-A-Thon. Without the Student Board and generous sponsors, we might not have had the t-shirts or the opportunities we got to experience at Marian’s annual Walk-A-Thon this year.