Raising Funds and Spreading Hope: A Student’s Mission

Over the last few weeks of school, AMSO student Evynne Nichols has developed a passionate idea, gathered support, and carried out a fundraiser for a significant cause. Evynne, a considerate, outgoing, and driven eighth-grade student here at Amity Middle School Orange, has taken an open-ended assignment from eighth-grade Social Studies teacher Mrs. Marganski and forged it into a personal purpose. Mrs. Marganski asked eighth-grade students to devise an idea for a monument to remember somebody or something they believe should be recognized for their significant influence on the world around them. Students were then assigned to write a letter to someone who could put their aspirations into action and help them take steps forward to achieve their monument. 

Evynne says that Devin Howard was the first person she thought of when she was given this assignment. Devin Howard was a ten-year-old boy who attended Racebrook Elementary School. Devin was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of two, having absence seizures at first, and by ten years old, having up to 100 seizures a day. 

Evynne, has known Devin her entire life, and saw his fierce spirit and felt the need to recognize him and share his story to inspire and educate her fellow students in her school. She says, "I wanted to do it because Devin was my friend, and I had known him for a long time, and this was a cathartic thing for me." Evynne's goal was to spread awareness and advocate for people with epilepsy. Evynne reached out to Dr. Carlson and Dr. Byars, the superintendent and assistant superintendent in the Amity School District, to get approval for a fundraiser. 

Purple ribbons were sold at lunch waves to raise awareness. Evynne teamed up with the Student Council to include a "Purple Day" during Spirit Week to encourage students to participate in donating. Evynne collected almost $1,300 to donate to the Devin Howard Memorial Foundation.

Evynne plans to continue supporting the foundation, whether through future fundraisers or by attending events run by the Devin Howard Memorial Foundation.