K-STATE AT SALINA WELD-A-THON BENEFITS LOCAL CHILD April 10, 2003 SALINA – K-State Salina students and faculty came together at the March 29 Open House to make a difference in their community, specifically to a member of their community. Students and faculty joined together in the weld-a-thon to benefit a local child. Steven Lawson, son of K-State Salina graduate Virgil Lawson, has been battling numerous heath problems, including a recent liver transplant. The family medical insurance covers only a portion of his heath care expenses, so K-State students and faculty decided to help the best they could. With materials donated by Grain Belt and Lampton, students and faculty welded a metal masterpiece, centered by a K-State powercat. Money was raised through a number of venues. The Residence Halls raised $240.90 through “penny wars.” Members of the halls were encouraged to drop their loose change in buckets, designated by building and floor. Putting pennies in their bucket earned their designated floor points, and dropping silver coins or dollar bills in others buckets deducted points from the floor in which they dropped the money. Phi Delta Theta fraternity raised $254.00 for Steven through a number of fund raising activities. $100.00 was donated by the community, and $12.40 was collected by selling the sculpture for scrap when the event had concluded, bringing the grand total to $607.30. Kathy Brockway, K-State faculty coordinator of the weld-a-thon, believed the event was a success. “Any time you provide the opportunity to bring students and faculty together to help benefit a graduate and members of the community, our campus jumps on the chance. I think it is a great reflection of the K-State tradition here at Salina.” |