Students raising money for Va. Tech

Story and photos by Larry Austin
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, April 26, 2007

Jaclyn Palmer, left, of Niagara-Wheatfield High School and her sister Julianne made and sold maroon and orange ribbons Friday in support of the victims of the Virginia Tech shooting.

The shooting spree at Virginia Tech last Monday has prompted students at Niagara-Wheatfield to establish a memorial fund.

Students at N-W are showing their support for the victims of the shooting by selling maroon and orange ribbons, the school colors of the Virginia Tech athletic teams, following the deaths of 32 students and teachers at Va. Tech

Money raised will go to a fund established at M&T Bank.

The Niagara-Wheatfield Board of Education approved the fund-raiser request as a late addition to its agenda at the April 18 meeting.

“We really thought that we had to do something,” said Jaclyn Palmer, a Niagara-Wheatfield senior. Palmer said she was watching the memorial ceremony the day after the shooting and saw the ribbons worn by mourners. The images inspired her to make the ribbons

“I’ve had 10 people that want to sell them,” Palmer said. “Everyone’s been really supportive. The board’s has been great, and they rush-approved it so we could get right in and get out and sell these.”

Palmer, her sister Julianne, Casey Moyer, Corey Bieber and Andrea Keller were busy at Friday’s N-W Music Parents Club benefit auction making maroon and orange ribbons and selling them for $1 each. Money raised will go to the Virginia Tech Memorial Fund at M&T Bank.

Jaclyn Palmer’s mother, Shari, said those looking to support the fund can go to any M&T Bank and donate to account number 984-50859-0

The students have taken to the charity because when a shooting happens, especially at an institute of higher learning, it has an impact on everyone, Jaclyn Palmer said Friday.

“It’s affected every student in the school. Today being the anniversary of Columbine, a lot of people were scared to come to school, especially with the shooting that happened this week,” Palmer said. “It’s really affected our school safety and that’s what I think these ribbons represent most. There are students standing up against school violence, and we’re just not going to tolerate it any more.”

Approximately 150 ribbons made on the first day sold out right away, Palmer said, and another 100 were sold the next day.

Students are now hoping to receive similar support from other local schools willing to raise money for M&T’s Va. Tech fund.

Andrea Keller, a freshman at Niagara-Wheatfield High School, makes the rounds at her school selling maroon and orange ribbons. The fund-raiser will help provide a memorial at Virginia Tech, site of a shooting spree last Monday.