By Savannah Gann and Laura Kate Lawrence
This past week Vestavia kicked off a new season of RISE with an explosive pep rally where the teachers stepped out of their comfort zones to bring awareness to the annual VHHS fundraiser: RISE. This fundraiser brings everyone in the Vestavia Hills community together to fight against cancer. Money raised for RISE goes directly to the Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology program of O’Neal comprehensive cancer center at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
RISE stands for Rebel Impact through Service and Engagement. RISE is a semester-long service-learning project sponsored by Youth Leadership Vestavia Hills. RISE consists of countless opportunities for students including 300 committee positions that plan and execute community-wide events. In addition, over half the student body participates in RISE teams throughout the semester to raise funds and create awareness through service.
The kickoff for RISE was Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023. This year’s theme is A Million Reasons with a goal to raise $1 million to support cancer research. Dr. Barry Sleckman, a professor and Director of the O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, spoke to the student body about the impact of cancer and the progress in research and prevention over the past 50 years. The event commenced with performances by faculty, staff, and students.
What better way to catch your attention than having your teachers come out dressed in decade costumes and dancing?! Our Vice Principal, Eric Hollis, sang and played the guitar alongside Keith Beard, a 12th grade English teacher. If that doesn’t get high school students rallied for a good cause, then what will? As spectators expected a speech from RISE Chair Joe Eshelman, they were met with a surprise skit, begun by an incredibly convincing performance by Kim Prewitt, where she accused Eshelman of messing up the pep rally. This skit led to Vestavia’s own teachers coming out dressed like celebrities and decades, bringing entertainment to all who witnessed it!
This exciting start to RISE will hopefully lead Vestavia students to meet their fundraising goal, enrich the Vestavia Hills community, and fight cancer.
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