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Ridgewood Elementary School

Frenship Superintendent's Student Advisory Board Stitch Together Support for Cancer Patients

The Superintendent’s Student Advisory Board is a group of students that represent each class at Frenship High School and the freshman class at the FHS Ninth Grade Center. 

The group meets throughout the year to discuss things happening around the district, complete community service projects, and often give Community Tours of Frenship High School and the FHS Ninth Grade Center.

This year will be the eighth year that the group has created blankets to donate. A few years ago, they partnered with the University Medical Center Cancer Center, and they plan to continue that partnership each year. 

Giselle Villarreal, a junior at Frenship High School, stated that the group makes the blankets to show their support for those fighting cancer.  

“I think its so important,” said Villarreal. “Because even though it's small it creates such a big impact, it makes the patient feel special. They know we are thinking about them.” 

Villarreal remembered MacKenna McNeely, a fellow member of the student advisory board, who generously donated her blanket to a former Frenship teacher undergoing cancer treatment. 

“I remember one of the other students had a teacher who had cancer,” said Villarreal. “Before she passed away, we ended up giving one to her and she said it was very special to her.” Read more about McNeely here. 

Senior Kritika Gautam hopes the blankets will keep the patients warm through whatever they are going through. 

“These people are in a dark place and even just the smallest thing can impact them and help them have a better time,” said Gautam.  

Both Gautam and Villarreal expressed how grateful they are to be on the Superintendent's Student Advisory Board. The group emphasizes cross-grade collaboration, students from each grade level come together to not only impact the school district but also the community.  

The project exemplifies the Frenship Way SERVE Model which stands for Smile, Engage, Respect, Volunteer, and Encourage. This model focuses on developing servant leaders, instilling positive behaviors in our students and staff, and serving our community at every opportunity.