Everyone has a childhood dream: becoming the first woman president, saving all endangered species or being a superhero. But as you get older these dreams may change. The class of 2014’s dream was to construct and plan a $3,500 well at a school in Sudan, Africa. And this dream came true this January.
“Coming into sophomore year I wanted to bring something different to the table,” junior Julia Balmaceda said. “I really thought that the class should focus not only on school priorities like dances and grades, but what we could do for others.”
Balmaceda also said that in the beginning of freshman year in religion class they watched a movie called “Millions.” It was about a boy who raised and donated money in order to build a well.
Sophomore class sponsor Amy Vandenbrul had the students seek approval from Alice Munninghoff in order to partake in such a big project. Balmaceda, junior Kristen Murphy and Associate Head of School for Advancement and Enrollment Celeste Greenlee gathered to organize fundraising options that went beyond asking parents for money, but more creative ones that would not conflict with the school’s general fundraisers.
“We had huge plans of getting t-shirts, buying reusable cups, having car washes and it was pretty apparent that we were over-complicating things,” Balmaceda said. “We ended up raising money through very simple things like bake sales, raffles, donations and getting part of the profit from Morp, Earth Day and Civvies.”
The bulk of the money was raised through bake sales held here at Sion and at Rockhurst High School.
“I think we raised about $400 at Rockhurst. It was pretty sweet,” junior Sydney O’Dear said. “The boys really liked cupcakes, and they finished off Maggie Wilcox’s German chocolate cake, which was huge, in like 15 minutes.”
Vandenbrul guided junior class secretary Mary Sizemore in how to deposit money using appropriate deposit forms. They dealt with Water Harvesters International, the well drilling company, for monitoring the students’ funding progress.
When asked how the class of 2014 decided on this project, Vandenbrul responded, “I think it came from the class of 2014 having hearts larger than the world.”
Second sophomore class sponsor Joan Knotts also had a passion for this project. Knotts became interested in a well project at her own church about a year before this project began. However, she and her husband could not find anyone else to go in with them on the cost. Knotts said that when the sophomore well project began, she was a bit surprised that they were taking on such a big project. Although as time went on she noticed how persistent the sophomore class and their officers were throughout the year raising the money needed.
“After discussion with my husband, we decided that we would match the money the students raised if they got to the halfway mark by the end of the school year,” Knotts said. “And they did — so we did!”
The well was drilled in November and the Water Harvesters website posted live pictures once it was completed and up and running at Cornerstone Orphanage and school on Nov. 16 where it benefits 1,200 people in the surrounding community.
Alumnae Relations Coordinator Lauren Golden sent out a press release once the class completed the project, and 41 Action News station called back and asked if they could interview a few students.
On Thursday, Jan. 10, Balmaceda and O’Dear did just that. O’Dear said that it was awesome to have the opportunity to be on the news but at the same time it was really nerve-racking. Although in the end it was a great experience and so much fun, she said.
“My reaction was one of joy and hope for the future,” Vandenbrul said. “That a small group of girls at a small school could make such an impact is every educator’s dream.”