Zenny’s teacher called me a few days ago to tell me that Zenny and her friend had won a prize for their group project, to be presented at the Winter Bazaar. She asked if we could come cheer for her, and not tell her she’d won so it would be a surprise. It turned out to be a surprise for everyone.
On the morning of the assembly I walked over to the school from the library with my camera, Mike drove up with a couple of leis, and we joined the crowd of people at the school fair. It filled up the big outdoor assembly area, with bake sales and craft booths and loud music. The younger classes took turns doing dance numbers on the stage. All the 5th graders were manning their project tables, selling homemade jewelry and banana bread, and the girls already had a long line for their little face painting business. The students had to design a business plan for the statewide KeikiCo contest, run by the local bank, and Zenny and her friend Kendall had gone with “ZenKen’s all-natural face painting”, with a cute book of designs for people to choose from, and 50% of proceeds going to the Hawaiian Humane Society.
The girls were painting as fast as they could, with at least 20 people waiting at $3-$5 a pop. The bank executive came by to meet us - along with Kendall’s parents and their teacher - and asked us all to help the girls up to the stage when they made the announcement, in case they were too busy to hear. Her assistant was carrying a big piece of plastic that looked like a novelty check, and that was my first clue that this wasn’t just a school project they were getting a certificate for.
Everyone stopped to listen when the bank executive got up to make her presentation. When their names were called, the girls were shocked, their mouths dropped open like cartoon characters, and then they grabbed each other’s hands and ran up to the stage. We all chased after them with leis.
The prize was $15,000 for their school. FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS. Their class will get some say in how some of that money is spent, and their booth made over $100, which they put in their class pot for an end-of-year party (with 50 percent going to the Humane Society). Their teacher bought ice cream and soda out of her own pocket for their class to celebrate.
It was a big week for Zenny, and I am so proud.
(Everyone pictured gave permission to be posted)
This is so amazing! Wow! Your smart, talented, beautiful girl and her obviously smart, talented, beautiful friend. I am sure you could not have been prouder. That's a real chunk of change for the school, too!
ReplyDeleteWow!What a lovely achievement.A win for the Humane Society too! You must tell us what the school decides to spend the money on.
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