Fitathon Pays Off for Middle School

Stanford Middle School's recent Fitathon fundraiser recently raised a record $50,000 for the school. The popular event is like a jogathon but with more activities. Students gather pledges that are honored if the student completes five minutes each of running or walking, rope jumping, hula hooping and obstacle course navigating. Last year's event raised $30,000 for two 30x40-foot shade covers for the lunch area. This year's funds will provide assemblies, new microphones for the auditorium, new lunch benches and a new piano for music classes. Top fundraiser was Narong Ngeth, who turned in $1,200. She won $100 and will be student Principal for a Day. Other winners are Mariyah Givens, $1,031, who won $75, and Arlene Fuentes, $1,000, who won $50. Both will be Assistant Principal at Lunch. Nick Wright, $650; Sarah Harvey, $647; and Brianna Dotson, $645, were $25 winners. Arroya Karian, $500, won $10. Several years ago, assistant principal Charlene Sugarman suggested that Stanford run its own fundraiser instead of paying an outside company to organize it. The school has netted more than $100,000 over the past three years from its Fitathon.