Going beyond ordinary schoolwork

By Amanda C. Davis

Seven South Range seniors raised more than $6,800 for charity.

NORTH LIMA — Diana Rhodes touched down in a Third World country and, when she left, an entire community was uplifted.

The 18-year-old comes from a family who values mission work, and jumped at the chance to head up a vacation Bible school for children in the impoverished Dominican Republic. The Caribbean country conjures images of tropical seaside vacations and clear blue water, but Rhodes said tourist spots paint a deceiving picture of what life is really like beyond the walls of the country’s beachfront resorts.

Rhodes’ mission trip to the village of Mucha Agua served as the foundation for a hands-on project that is part of the curriculum at South Range High School, where seniors get to choose their own topics.

As a requirement for seniors in Bonnie Molnar’s English class, students were paired with mentors who offered advice and technical help. Projects – everything from Rhodes’ trip, to charity fundraisers and restoration projects — were presented to a panel of judges, and students had to write term papers as part of their grade.

Rhodes, who was in the Dominican Republic from Feb. 28 to March 3, said she was on a similar trip there in July with Greenford Christian Church.

Fellow church member Dianne Hostetler, of Salem, was planning a women’s project in the Dominican and needed help with the Bible school. Rhodes decided to do it, and Hostetler became her mentor.

Battered by Hurricane Noel in November, the Dominican was in bad shape when the two arrived.

“All the dirt roads were gone,” Rhodes said. “It was impoverished before, and after the hurricane, it was much worse.”

She raised about $500 for supplies after writing letters to friends, family and church members, asking for support.

Rhodes is excited about her future and plans to study Christian counseling at Johnson Bible College in Knoxville. She said she might decide to eventually return to the Dominican Republic, possibly even to live.

While some might learn all they need to know about the country from postcards, travel brochures or the Internet, Rhodes dug in deep and will carry the lessons of her senior project throughout her life.

Her term paper says it all.

The spirit, economy and geography of the Dominican Republic can’t be felt by reading alone, she said: “The only way the country can be fully experienced is to step on its soil. Then all the words read will become so much more.”

Seven other students raised a total of $6,814 for various charities.

Andrew Padach held a dodge-ball tournament in April and raised $810 for autism that he will donate to a local organization or one in Cleveland. He said he came up with the idea because his brother, Salvatore Garbarz, 5, is autistic.

Kortney Kersten raised $2,000 for Lance Armstrong’s LiveStrong Foundation by holding a ReadStrong LiveStrong used book sale in the community. Students and administrators donated books that were sold in March.

Her term paper covered illiteracy in the U.S., and she said she wanted to make sure kids in her community have easy access to books.

“I really like to read and I wanted to be able to share that with other people,” she said.

Molnar said the projects have been a part of senior requirements for 10 years, and that students have six months to complete them, working a minimum of 15 hours.

“It allows them to explore their own interests,” she said, explaining that students each year use their creativity to “do some amazing things.”

Senior Annie DeChellis took over a golf outing for the South Range Athletic Boosters in July for her project and raised $21,847, a record amount by several thousand dollars, Molnar said.

Principal Phil Latessa, who helped judge presentations,said the projects teach students about organization, how to tackle obstacles, and to learn through process and hands-on involvement.

Molnar said judges also included members of the community, some who have expertise or knowledge in the particular field the projects address. Judges help determine the students’ grades.

Joel Melnick used pine and white ash to hand-craft baseball bats with the help of his cousin, Gary Scullion of Columbiana, who owns a pattern shop. Melnick, who plays varsity baseball, had the team sign one of the bats and plans to put it in a display box and take it to Mount Union College with him in the fall, where he will study sports management.

Katelyn Felger learned to quilt from her mom, Beth, and her grandma, Paula Kuzel of Canfield. She plans to continue with her hobby, and will take the quilt she made for her project when she leaves for Mount Vernon Nazarene College in the fall.

Charlie Lengyel enlisted his dad, Chuck, to help restore a Yamaha motorcycle that he now rides. His dad; mom, Cindy; and sister, Pam, all ride, a pastime that Lengyel said “is definitely in the family.”

Patrick McLaughlin also used his hands, learning to fix and restore an old oak dining table that belonged to his grandma, Glenna McLaughlin, of Salem. His grandfather, Jack Hovis, helped him even though some family members encouraged him to pick an easier subject for his project.

“I found I can really accomplish something if I put my mind to it,” he said.

Lindsay Heath and Michele Smith partnered up to design and make their own adult-size shirts based on Disney princess dresses for girls. Neither knew how to sew when they set out, but were taught by Heath’s mom, Amy Russell.

Heath made a shirt based on a Snow White costume and Smith’s is modeled after Ariel from “The Little Mermaid.”

“We wanted to modernize them and make them appropriate for our age,” Smith said.

The two plan to continue with their designs over the summer and have had others suggest they pitch a line to Disney.

Whether or not they do, Heath said, “It’s just a brand-new skill I can take into the world.”