Kenney Middle School Students are Heroes at Heart

by Submitted article | May 12, 2014 3:13 pm

Dennis M. Kenney Middle School in the Hannibal Central School District is filled with heroes, heroes that quite literally jumped at the opportunity to help others.

Catching some air and showing off some of her jump roping skills at Kenny Middle School Jump Rope for Heart celebration is seventh grade student Alyssa Beck. Pictured with Alyssa is Ciara Farnham, foreground, and Brigette Reed, background. The celebration was held to honor KMS students for their commitment to American Heart Association’s National Jump Rope for Heart fundraising and awareness campaign.
Catching some air and showing off some of her jump roping skills at Kenny Middle School Jump Rope for Heart celebration is seventh grade student Alyssa Beck. Pictured with Alyssa is Ciara Farnham, foreground, and Brigette Reed, background. The celebration was held to honor KMS students for their commitment to American Heart Association’s National Jump Rope for Heart fundraising and awareness campaign.

More than 50 middle school students along with their physical education teachers Penny Leonard and Dan Pawlewicz made a commitment to join the American Heart Association in its annual Jump Rope For Heart fundraising campaign.

The Kenny Middle School team fundraised for one month, generating more than $1,500 for the American Heart Association.

Donations generated through this campaign are utilized to fund medical research to help find lifesaving cures for people who suffer from various heart conditions.

The KMS Jump Rope for Heart campaign culminated in early May with a jump rope celebration and special visit from a young boy who was born with a heart condition known as Pulmonic Stenosis.

Derek Eells and his mom, Amy Eells thanked the school for their support of the American Heart Association and said that the students’ donations will go towards research to help people like Derek who are born with unhealthy hearts.

Kenny Middle School student Makayla Ritchie is a hero and signs her name to a duck on the Heart Hero Pond poster during a Jump Rope for Heart event to celebrate the school’s donation to the American Heart Association. Pictured with Makayla is KMS Physical Education Teacher Penny Leonard.
Kenny Middle School student Makayla Ritchie is a hero and signs her name to a duck on the Heart Hero Pond poster during a Jump Rope for Heart event to celebrate the school’s donation to the American Heart Association. Pictured with Makayla is KMS Physical Education Teacher Penny Leonard.

Special recognitions were also presented during the culminating celebration to recognize Dillon Plantz, Austin Calkins, and Isabella Long as the school’s top three fundraisers and then every participant was given an opportunity to keep their own hearts healthy with some fun jump rope games and activities.

 

 

 

Three Kenney Middle School students are honored as the top fundraisers for the school’s Jump Rope for Heart campaign. Sixth grader Dillon Plantz (second from left) was the top fundraiser; fifth grader Austin Calkins (second from right) was the second place fundraiser; and fifth grader Isabella Long (far right) was the third place fundraiser. The trio is pictured with KMS Physical Education teachers Penny Leonard (far right) and Dan Pawlewicz and special guests of honor Derek and Amy Eells (far left). The Eells were invited to speak to students about Derek’s battle with a heart condition known as Pulmonic Stenosis. Donations generated from the KMS Jump Rope for Heart will fund research to help children like Derek who are born with an unhealthy heart.
Three Kenney Middle School students are honored as the top fundraisers for the school’s Jump Rope for Heart campaign. Sixth grader Dillon Plantz (second from left) was the top fundraiser; fifth grader Austin Calkins (second from right) was the second place fundraiser; and fifth grader Isabella Long (far right) was the third place fundraiser. The trio is pictured with KMS Physical Education teachers Penny Leonard (far right) and Dan Pawlewicz and special guests of honor Derek and Amy Eells (far left). The Eells were invited to speak to students about Derek’s battle with a heart condition known as Pulmonic Stenosis. Donations generated from the KMS Jump Rope for Heart will fund research to help children like Derek who are born with an unhealthy heart.

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