North Putnam raises most in Polar Plunge school effort for Indiana Special Olympics

Asst. Principal Amanda Williams gets a selfie with more than 70 North Putnam High School students during the Polar Plunge at Eagle Creek last Friday. They raised more than $9,000 for the effort.

Courtesy photo

INDIANAPOLIS — More than 70 students at North Putnam High School showed out last Friday to partake in the Polar Plunge at Eagle Creek Park in Indianapolis.

Celebrating its 25th year supporting Special Olympics Indiana, the Polar Plunge campaign’s season ran from Feb. 2 to last Saturday. Nineteen locations across the state hosted events, with all proceeds going toward training and competition for nearly 18,000 athletes.

Participants must raise a minimum of $99 to take a plunge. More than 500 high school students and staff took the plunge at Eagle Creek, including Asst. Principal Amanda Williams, counselor Haley Weaver and teacher Brandy Dickson.

With the school teams including Perry Meridian, Sheridan and Westfield among others, the Frozen Friends of North Putnam raised the most of all of them with more than $9,000.

“While this event is about raising money, these types of activities go a long way in developing and building upon our positive school culture,” Principal Jason Chew expressed to the school community.

Students are involved in North Putnam High School’s Champions Together program, which was started in 2017. It focuses on promoting unified activities in which students with disabilities interact with their peers.

“We’re just trying to pay it forward,” Champions Together sponsor Brandy Dickson told the Banner Graphic.