Ogilvie Elementary School students once again participated in the American Heart Association’s (AHA) week-long “Jump Rope for Heart” event in mid-February. All the students jumped rope during physical education classes, and when all was said and done students and staff had raised the most money in school history.

A total of 54 elementary students raised money for the AHA, and together their efforts totaled $2,784.66. Those students were: Krya Hoffman, Hazel Meyman, Cecelia Sanborn, Elizabeth Witter, Candice Carlson, Ashley Lindberger, Taylor Helmbrecht, Katie Kunst, Rhett Hudoba, Brandon Hill, Keyonna Aderman, Breanna Carlson, Savanah Anderson, Lexi Voss, Haley Kollar, Jazmine Meagher, Olivia Hudoba, Peter Aderman, Savannah Hill, Tristan Hoffman, Rylie Bullock, Annika Berg, Andy Berg, Brooke Bullock, Trystan Barber, Brady Harlan, Jordin Klar, Mitchell Klar, Breanna Koran, and Kayla Troupe.

All together they helped save 15 lives.

The following students helped save a life by raising $50 or more: Jonathan Magaard, Kaia Hass, Jacob DeBoer, Devann Harris, Randy Larson, Kaitlyn Kehoe, Hannah Prokosch, Shantell VanVleet, Leyton Black, Terrance Wallace, Hannah Crowell, Emma Morgan, Seth Lombard, Marley Harris, Wyatt Lombard, Jordan Horning, Valerie Horning, Ryan Schumacher, Tate Lashinski, Body VanderPlaats, Bonnie Carlson, Annie Rodenberg, Alexander Wallace and Brandon Deforrest.

All together they helped save 40 lives.

Last year Ogilvie had 47 students participate and raised $2,579.26. This year, with seven more students participating in the fundraiser during a down economy, the fundraiser generated $205.40 more than last year.

“They did a wonderful job especially when you take into account today’s fallen economy,” Carrie Stenslie, an Ogilivie physical education teacher, said. “This is such a worthy cause and I want to thank all the students and parents who took the time and effort to raise money for the American Heart Association.”

Ogilvie’s top-three fundraisers this year were: Leyton Black (second grade) who raised $435, Randy Larson(fourth grade) who raised $160, and Kaitlyn Kehoe(third grade) who raised $150.

The top-three fundraisers were involved in painting Principal Endicott and Mrs. Stenslie’s hair. Leyton painted Principal Endicott’s hair purple, Randy and Kaitlyn painted Mrs. Stenslie’s hair blue.