Southview students keep busy by planning to keep others busy

3/22/2006

A group of Southview High School students have been busy over the last few weeks devising ways to keep their classmates busy for a 12-hour Dance for a Chance event at the school.

It will be the third annual dance during which students promise to be either dancing or active in some activity that will keep them on their feet from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

This year the dance will take place at Southview on Saturday.

Allison Lawrence, one of the student organizers, said each youngster must raise $50 in pledges for staying active for 12 hours; in the past the activity has raised a total of $13,000, which has been donated to charities.

A total of 250 forms for pledges have been distributed.

She added that the youngsters also have asked for donations from area businesses, both for financial support and for snacks and refreshments for those who attend the event.

This year s recipient will be the Autism Society of Northwest Ohio.

Steve Swaggerty, the students teacher and adviser for the dance, said the society intends to use contributions for assistance to parents dealing with autistic children.

Mr. Swaggerty said the idea was his students and that they are given the responsibility to organize the event and determine the charity that will benefit.

He said this year s group of youngsters has the event well under control.

Both school gyms and the commons area are used for the dance and the other events that keep the youngsters on their feet.

Contests range from a Jello-eating contest to a quiz bowl to volleyball.

Individual and team awards will be presented prior to the 10 p.m. end.

Students working on the project who went to last year s dance said it may seem as if it would be tiring, but there was so much fun that it wasn t a concern.