It’s time for Howell High School’s Senior Survivor event, which kicks off Friday with a community carnival. The actual competition begins on Sunday.
My first question is: how in the world is this event going to top itself, because somehow it always does. Since it began in 2008, Senior Survivor has raised more than $1 million for various non-profit organizations that help others in the community. It’s a truly beautiful thing. And it’s an event that reaches deep into the community to raise funds and to help.
The Senior Survivor Carnival runs 6-9 p.m. Friday at the Howell High School Fieldhouse, and features games, entertainment, arts and crafts, raffles, inflatables, and more. Admission is $10 for ages 3-18; adults and kids 2 and under are free. An adult must accompany students in eighth grade or below. All funds raised support the overall fundraising goal of Senior Survivor.
This year, an Elementary Survivor, Middle School Survivor, and Staff Survivor will assist the competitors, and all the money raised will support the Highlander Hownds, the district’s therapy dog program. Senior Survivor aims to raise enough money to place a therapy dog in each of the district’s schools AND create a fund to take care of the dogs for the foreseeable future. The Highlander Hownds are highly trained, and they help create positive learning experiences that can help improve a student’s confidence, motivation, and overall academic achievement.
I have little doubt these kids will reach their goal.
Consider that in 2021 and 2022, as we emerged from the pandemic, the Senior Survivor program raised $461,000 in two years to build Senior Survivor Playground in Genoa Township, which allows people of all abilities to play together. What began as an idea from a former Howell teacher with a son with a disability started became reality nearly a year ago when ground was broken on the playground, which features natural elements and textures — like logs, stumps, ropes, boulders and plants, that provide opportunities for individual exploration and discovery, as well as collaborative play. Senior Survivors from 2021 and 2022 were on hand to celebrate their amazing accomplishment.
It’s so easy to get sidetracked and depressed by all the political dysfunction we endure each and every day; that’s why events like Howell High School Senior Survivor are all the more important. This event benefits us in concrete ways by raising funds and helping others; it also benefits us in more universal ways, like reminding us of the promise of our young people, of the power of optimism and positive action, and how wonderful the world can be and how much good we can accomplish if we work together with purpose toward a common goal.
Here are this year’s Senior Survivor competitors: Ryan Chmura (Team Chmura-Cane), Paige Costello (Team Rampaige), Luke Stolz (Team Lukewarm), Makenzie Cude (Team Makattack), Sean Elberson (Team Chefsean), Ethan Flore (Team Funk Master Flore), Connor Ford (Team Fordnite), Avery Gerace (Team Averytube), Elijah Keeton (Team Elijah Rockin), Zach Kuncaitis (Team Z-Money), Lea Macgregor, (Team Mac On Track), Ava Moore (Team Moore Money), Logan Porter (Team Logang), Harrison Putkela (Team Hookela), Olivia Speer (Team Speerit), and Ellie Wolfe (Team Wolfe Pack). Each Senior Survivor will be supported by a fifth-grade Junior Survivor, an eighth-grade Middle School Survivor, and a Staff Survivor.
Check out the funds raised as the program took hold and grew:
2008 — $5,000 — Mackenzie Watts Scholarship Fund
2009 — $8,535 — Make-A-Wish
2010 — $7,488.32 — C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital
2011 — $5,759.46 — Connection Youth Services
2012 — $13,375.52 — ARC of Livingston
2013 — $20,229.36 — Zac Cain Foundation & NAMI
2014 — $27,039.26 — The Rainbow Connection
2015 — $41,212.91 — Children’s Leukemia Foundation of Michigan
2016 — $55,918.31 — Stiggy’s Dogs
2017 — $78,000.35 — American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
2018 — $90,000.01 — LACASA & FARA
2019 — $136,189.46 — North Star Reach & Julianna’s Wishes
2020 — $51,400 — Special Olympics Michigan & United Way Covid-19 Relief
2021 — $229,659.10 — Senior Survivor Inclusive Playground (Year 1)
2022 — $232,369.99 — Senior Survivor Inclusive Playground (Year 2)
I salute each and every single person who has ever participated in or contributed to the amazing Senior Survivor program. Thanks for reminding us how big life in a small town can be.
For more information on the Howell High School Senior Survivor program, click here.
