The group of students, whose hard work visibly paid off on Sept. 27, 2005 when the $30 million bond to improve Cumberland High School passed, were honored Mar. 9 by the Service-Learning Leadership team.

Known as Project

Save Our School (S.O.S.), Co-Presidents and seniors Chase Bentley and Kayla Wilcox dedicated numerous hours lobbying to voters to pass the bond.

The project started in fall of 2003 with a group of 60 students, some of whom have since graduated, and three devoted teachers, Ms. Heather Bogossian, Ms. Kelly DeMarco and Ms. Kristin Polseno. S.O.S. members ventured into the community and interviewed other students and principals to obtain the best idea of how to “save the school.”

Wilcox mentioned that the Project was not always looked highly upon. “While pursuing the advocacy of the $30 million bond, Project S.O.S. was me with resistance, being told at times that we were to negative. However, whether or not we were perceived as negative or positive in the community, we, as students, stood up and proved that we not only have a voice that needs to be heard, but that we care about our education,” she said.

During the ceremony, Mayor David Iwuc gave a speech commending the students for their hard work and efforts. Iwuc compared the students to lyrics in a rock song from four decades ago; “Go back to the late 60’s when ‘The Who’ came out with the song ‘The Kids Are Alright.’ These kids are alright.”

The ceremony opened with Service-Learning Leadership team member and senior, Marc Piquette followed by speeches from Iwuc, Principal Mr. Stephen Driscoll, Superintendent Dr. Donna Morelle, Wilcox, Bentley and Polseno.

Morelle acknowledged the new environment that Cumberland youth will experience when they approach high school. “For everyone that walks the halls of CHS, learning will be changed.”