Ellen Reinecke, Tori Kratz and Delaney Galvin are students in the DECA program at North Meck. As part of their participation in the program that provides an in-depth immersion into the worlds of business, marketing and service, the students are required to develop and implement a community service project. With a flair for the unusual, and a deeply personal tie to a worthy cause, the girls created the latest version of the "flamingo flocking" phenomenon to migrate to the greater Huntersville community.
The flocking process is actually the last phase of a community awareness project the girls have been promoting since the start of the school year. The overall goal is to increase awareness of — and generate financial support for research targeting — sarcoma, a relatively unknown form of tissue cancer.
Sarcoma is statistically uncommon and usually strikes young people. With early diagnosis and treatment, children struck with the disease have a good chance of survival. But in adults, cases of sarcoma are extremely rare — the particular manifestation is responsible for one percent of all adult cancer deaths — and subsequently difficult to detect and diagnose.
The girls involved in the DECA project know all too well the tragic impact sarcoma can have. Amy Reinecke, Ellen's mom, died Jan. 14, 2010 from the disease.
The project created by the three girls funnels all proceeds to the Maryland-based Sarcoma Foundation of America and, along the way, encourages fellow students and other residents of the community to learn what they can about the rarely publicized and often overshadowed affliction.
"It's a really rare form of cancer," 17-year-old Reinecke said this week. "When my mom had it, I just remember that it seemed like no one knew much about it. This is a way to help spread the word and help the foundation."
Reinecke and Kratz, both juniors at North Meck, and Delaney, a senior, settled on the idea for their community service project quickly when the school year began. They have sold T-shirts and operated an in-school candygram service at Halloween and other special occasions during the year all with the sole purpose of promoting the cause.
"I think it has been a very successful project overall," Reinecke said. "More kids know about sarcoma and that is the primary goal."
Kratz said while it's a club-related project, it is a program all three girls feel strongly about.
"This is something that is very close to our hearts," she said, adding that she and Ellen were friends before they were DECA partners. "We all wanted to be involved in something we felt strongly about."
The flocking process is fairly simple. The girls have flyers posted at various locations throughout Huntersville, and those wishing to flock a neighbor, friend or family member only have to make a phone call. For $15, a front lawn is transformed overnight into a nesting ground for large, bright, laminated pink flamingos complete with a note explaining what's been done and where to call to have the decorations relocated. For $10, the flock is removed and, if requested, repositioned on a different lawn.
The girls started this portion of the DECA project this week and have already developed a following.
"We've been pretty busy," Reinecke said. "We've only been doing this a few days and we're already on our second house."
The flamingos will stay active through January, but then Reinecke, Kratz and Galvin will begin the process of compiling the results of their project into a presentation for regional, state and, potentially, national DECA competitions.
Whatever the final result, Reinecke is glad her friends joined her in the project and she's convinced that the undertaking has been successful — not only in providing information about sarcoma, but in helping her remember and pay tribute to her mother.
"It's nice seeing how sometimes really bad things can lead to something really good," she said. "And I feel like it has been good for me to be a part of this."
'Girls on Track' a DECA success
Another DECA project in the community has successfully enhanced the fitness and self-esteem of girls at Bailey Middle School.
Hough High School students Chandler Darden and Summer McFadden adopted the "Girls on Track" club at Bailey, located beside Hough on Bailey Road in Cornelius, as their DECA community service project for the year. Girls on Track is the middle school version of the Girls on the Run program created to help young women build self-esteem and self-confidence while learning about and adopting a healthier, more active lifestyle.
The group has raised funds for the Our Towns Habitat for Humanity program and participated in a community-wide fundraising race.
The Girls on Track participants put their new skills to the test in a fundraiser held at the Bailey track. After securing pledges, the sixth, seventh and eighth graders from Bailey raised $300 for the Habitat for Humanity program by completing laps.
The group, along with younger students involved in Girls on the Run clubs, then participated in a full-blown 5K race.
"We ran together," Darden and McFadden wrote in a summary of the project. "It brought all the Girls on the Run clubs and Girls on Track clubs together to run, which is what they were working for during their entire time of training. The race proved to the girls they could reach their goal that they had set at the beginning of the club in September."
In their project summary, Darden and McFadden wrote that the project was a success because "we saw the change over time from when they started and when they finished. They built much character and we are very proud to say we are a part of the club as well."
First-quarter honor rolls for Lake Norman-area schools.
Bradley Middle School
Sixth Grade
A Honor Roll: Acree, Carson, Alexander, Tamia, Allen, Nathan, Bales, Joshua, Barnhardt, Samantha, Bell, Michael, Bhagavathy, Abhinav, Braun, Zachary, Brotherton, Madelyn, Brown, Logan, Butler, Rachel, Carey, Morgan, Christman, Claire, Concepcion, Gianina, Cox, Peyton, Cruz-Rodriguez, Elizabeth, Dockery, Joshua, Dolaher, Liam, Dorgan, Michael, Edwards, Alexis, Enstrom, Brett, Ford, Jordan, Fulkerson, Cheri, Gabriel, Alexys, Gresham, Hayden, Griffin, Madison, Grimes, Jade, Hall, Lindsey, Hammond, Christian, Handsman, Luca, Harig, Katelyn, Harris, Bailey, Herterich, Michael, Hines, Matthew, Hyatt, Aionna, Jones, Alexander, Kennedy, Cassidy, Kim, Brian, Kinoshita, Ashley, Kranz, Kaitlin, Lawrence, Abigail, Liakakos, George, Lisk, Logan, Long, Nicole, Lynch, Mikayla, Maynard, Declan, McMellon, Aaron, Melvin, Samantha, Melvin, Victoria, Nelson, Calvin, Onoh, Arianna, Pehan, Nicole, Petty, Andrew, Pistolis, Jacob, Reed, Connor, Rinker, Breana, Roebuck, Emmy, Russell, Kaitlyn, Russell, Lauren, Sabbagh, Madeline, Seda, Maxwell, Seltzer, Riley, Snider, Duncan, Stout, Ariana, Tarpley, Benen, Thomas, Brian, Tucker, Hampton, Walker, Connor, Webb, Hiram, Wilkerson, Dyonna, Wilson, Grace, Wolfe, Emily.
A/B Honor Roll: Abney, Taylor, Acree, Carson, Alexander, Tamia, Alfson, Ann, Allen, Nathan, Bales, Joshua, Barnhardt, Samantha, Beasley, Connor, Bell, Brianna, Bell, Michael, Bennett, Breona, Bhagavathy, Abhinav, Blair, Alexa, Blick, Bailey, Braun, Zachary, Brotherton, Madelyn, Brown, Logan, Brown, Xavier, Butler, Rachel, Byrne, Connor, Campbell, David, Carey, Morgan, Carion, Calliope, Chester, Lyndsay, Christman, Claire, Clark, Triniti, Colen, Rosemary, Collado, Lauryn, Concepcion, Gianina, Cooper, Mia, Cox, Peyton, Craven, Cameron, Crawford, Olivia, Cruz-Rodriguez, Elizabeth, Cutts, Asyia, D'Amelio, Christopher, Darwish, Malik, Dejean, Marcus, Denchfield, Brittany, Dera, Torie, Dixon, Madison, Dockery, Joshua, Dolaher, Liam, Don, Taryn, Dorgan, Michael, Durst, Megan, Edwards, Alexis, Ellmaker, Luke, Enstrom, Brett, Espinal Garcia, Odalis, Feith, Hanna, Feurtado, Jonathan, Flores, Emily, Font, Diana, Ford, Jordan, Forte, Corinne, Franker, Zachary, Franklin, Evelyn, Freeman, Lia, Fulkerson, Cheri, Gabriel, Alexys, Gambill, William, Gilchrist, Angel, Givens, Jeremy, Gordon, Tajgia, Graper, Haven, Gresham, Hayden, Griffin, Christian, Griffin, Madison, Grimes, Jade, Guerrero, Andrew, Gurley, Rachel, Hagins, Makayla, Hall, Lindsey, Hammond, Christian, Han, Min, Handsman, Luca, Hansen, Megan, Harig, Katelyn, Harris, Bailey, Harvey, Christopher, Hayward, Hannah, Herterich, Michael, Hill Jr, Christopher, Hill, Alexander, Hines, Matthew, Holland, Christopher, Hopkins, Madison, Hovis, Collin, Howard, Paige, Hummel, Ryan, Hyatt, Aionna, James, Connor, Jenkins, Inez, Jenkins, Rees, Johnson, Bruin, Johnson, Taylor, Jones, Alexander, Jones, Niya, Kapit, Stephanie, Kennedy, Cassidy, Keyser, Julia, Kim, Brian, Kinoshita, Ashley, Kopp, Nolan, Kranz, Kaitlin, Kushmock, Kayla, Lawrence, Abigail, Laws, Sarah, Liakakos, George, Lifer, Jacob, Lisk, Logan, Long, Nicole, Louzini, Matthew, Lukens, Julia, Lynch, Mikayla, Mahoney, Paige, Marean, Joseph, Marques, Lucas, Marulanda Jr, Francisco, Matthews III, Walter, Maye, Korrin, Maynard, Declan, McDonald, Jasmyn, McGrew, Gunner, McGuane, Siera, McMellon, Aaron, Mclawhorn, Austin, Melvin, Samantha, Melvin, Victoria, Murphy, Christian, Nelson, Calvin, Ngo, Madelein, Novick, Emily, Ogden, Victoria, Onoh, Arianna, Parker, Faith, Pearce, Jordan, Pehan, Nicole, Perry, Zori, Petty, Andrew, Phifer, Braxton, Phipps, Macey, Pigeon, Sarah, Pistolis, Jacob, Poindexter, Abigail, Puleo, Justin, Rapp, Renee, Ray, Sean, Reed, Connor, Riggs, Ryan, Riles, Amber, Rinker, Breana, Roberts, David, Roebuck, Emmy, Rowe, Lauren, Runnion, Jordan, Ruse, Sara, Russell, Kaitlyn, Russell, Lauren, Sabbagh, Madeline, Sabourin, Sophie, Scanlan, Raymond, Schubert, Sarah, Seda, Maxwell, Seltzer, Riley, Shiels, Kathleen, Sisk, Sarah, Slonneger, Emma, Snider, Duncan, Stermon, Zachary, Stout, Ariana, Stradford, Danielle, Strandemo, Karin, Szczesek, Kyra, Tarpley, Benen, Templin, Victoria, Thomas, Brian, Thomas, Joseph, Thompson, Jacob, Tingle, Chandler, Trollinger, Ashlyn, Tucker, Hampton, Turner, Adam, Vega, Amy, Walker, Connor, Weatherington, Kayla, Webb, Hiram, Webb, Mason, Whichard, D'Angelo, Wike, Brianna, Wilkerson, Dyonna, Williams, Taylor, Wilson, A'yana, Wilson, Grace, Wolfe, Emily, Wolfram, Holden, Worland, Alison, Young, Rashira, Youngblood, Erin, Zitnik, Marina, Zoeckler, Stephanie.
Seventh Grade
A Honor Roll: Agunobi, Vanessa, Ayscue, Killian, Bennett, Zachary, Berg, Jacob, Bertone, Dominic, Biancofiore, Alexandra, Boas, Anthony, Broder, Ethan, Carey, Joseph, Carroll, Madison, Concepcion, Anna, Couse, Tyler, Difabio, Amanda, Durst, Erika, Eaton, Tyler, Fant, Arnajhia, Fite, Dalton, Ford, Maria, Francovig, Connie, Garner, Christian, German, Tiara, Gianikos, Gabrielle, Goldstein, Jason, Hill, Catherine, Huskey, Jessica, Jones, Kara, Kennedy, Melanie, Kim, Justin, Lewis, Julien, Maclamroc, Alexa, Martin, Hannah, McGinnis, Erin, Morales, Mariana, Munoz, Kailey, Negron, Kayla, Patel, Tanvi, Peters, Julia, Pham, Kelly, Rinehardt, Caroline, Schmitz, Paige, Slade, Jasmine, Spivey, McKenzie, Sprinkles, Hayley, Strickland, Haley, Temple, Madison, Tilley, Claire, Walcott, Bryson, Whittaker, Ashley.
A/B Honor Roll: Acheampong, Rachel, Adams, Brittany, Agunobi, Vanessa, Alexander, Hannah, Allen, Ashley, Angello, William, Avery, Daniel, Ayscue, Killian, Baker, Alexandria, Baker, Stephen, Bennett, Zachary, Benson, Tyler, Berg, Jacob, Bertone, Dominic, Biancofiore, Alexandra, Biery, Mitchell, Bloom, Hunter, Boas, Anthony, Borowski, Anna, Bowles, Jeremy, Bradley, Camari, Broder, Ethan, Brower, Brandon, Brown, Ashley, Brown, Taylor, Bullock, Taylor, Carey, Joseph, Carroll, Madison, Catrambone, Kennedy, Cegelski, Elijah, Chacon, Brooklynn, Concepcion, Anna, Conger, Chase, Conway, Alexa, Cortes Gonzale, Janice, Cortes, Cristina, Couse, Tyler, Cowan, Maura, Crawford, Lamaya, Diaz, Branden, Difabio, Amanda, Durst, Erika, Eaton, Tyler, Estanislao, Justine Patricia, Fant, Arnajhia, Fite, Dalton, Ford, Maria, Francovig, Connie, Garner, Christian, Gerasimou, Justin, German, Tiara, Gianikos, Gabrielle, Gilbert, Noah, Gillie, Ryan, Gioulis, Marie, Goldstein, Jason, Gomez, Renee, Hadley, Colin, Halley, Lavis, Harris, Diamond, Hartman, Emma, Henderson, Julia, Hicks, Haylee, Hill, Catherine, Holder Castillo, Juliana, Hoy, Savannah, Hronek, Alexander, Huggins, Alexia, Huneycutt, Madison, Hunsaker, Alesha, Huntley, Peter, Huskey, Jessica, Isherwood, Taylor, Ivey, Trevor, Jagdeo, Caleb, Jeffries, Azanti, Jones, Destini, Jones, Hunter, Jones, Kara, Keen, Audrey, Kennedy, Melanie, Kim, Justin, Lates, Samantha, Laub, Colton, Lewis, Julien, Lutz, Kendall, Lutz, Michael, Maclamroc, Alexa, Mantovani, Alessandra, Marte Jr, Morris, Martin, Aleya, Martin, Hannah, Mazur, Kaitlyn, McGinnis, Erin, McLellan, Sierra, Minter, Sarah, Mitchiner, Jakob, Morales, Mariana, Munoz, Kailey, Negron, Kayla, Nelson, Adell, Ngo, Mayla, Norris, Thomas, Patel, Tanvi, Patterson, Elijah, Peters, Julia, Pham, Kelly, Piro, Alexander, Poling, Kaden, Praileau, Eryka, Putney, Charles, Richardson, Jalen, Rinehardt, Caroline, Rogers, Kara, Roser, Nicolas, Ruscio, Analise, Salley, Kevin, Savage, Armani, Schmitz, Paige, Schrader, Mason, Schroeder, Megan, Sherrill, Kyla, Shire, Amelia, Slade, Jasmine, Smith, Elijah, Smith, Hunter, Spivey, McKenzie, Sprinkles, Hayley, Steimel, Paige, Sternlieb, Zachary, Stevenson, Zoie, Stone, Hannah, Strickland, Haley, Szymura, Jacob, Taylor, Rei, Temple, Madison, Thomas, Dayna, Tilley, Claire, Tillman, Omaree, Tompkins, Parker, Torres, Alexis, Tripathi, Aditi, Turrubiartes, Consuelo, Tyski, Emilia, Upshaw, Clarence, Victorin, Vladimir, Villalobos, Maria, Walcott, Aislinn, Walcott, Bryson, Waterson, Rebecca, Weathers, Drake, Wennborg, Emma, Whittaker, Ashley, Wilford, Lydia, Wilson, Jenna, Wilson, Sarah, Yarborough, Hannah, Ybarra, Dante.
Eighth Grade
A Honor Roll: Alexander, Kevin, Brown, Ruth, Bucco, Olivia, Chelko, Madeline, Csehoski, Alexa, DeMarcus Jr., William, Dolaher, Nolan, Ellmaker, Maddox, Frye, Gloria, Fulkerson, Darren, Gold, Alexis, Hall, Kailey, Hatcher, Kayla, Hoyt, Lindsay, Huebner, Bailey, Hutchinson, John, Lawrence, Austin, Margraf, Madeleine, Maynard, Kylie, McGee, Charlie, Miller, Mackenzie, Novitt, Matthew, Page, Amber, Parker, Leigh, Penaranda, Jorge, Petry, Anna, Reynolds, Anna, Sandry, Megan, Schindler, Daniel, Smith, Tyler, Snedecor, Mark, Usher, Rebecca, Walton, Caitlyn, Wheeler, Blake, Wright, Courtney.
A/B Honor Roll: Alexander, Kaelyn, Alexander, Kevin, Amatuzzo, Christopher, Amster, Mary, Ashby, Margaret, Ashley, Luke, Barksdale, Jordan, Barrett, Savannah, Bartlett, Jake, Benson, Courtney, Black, Nemiah, Bouasavatdy, Anusone, Bratina, Sydney, Brown, Ruth, Bucco, Olivia, Buckman, Tamerah, Burch, Malachi, Burney, Jada, Byers, Mikera, Byrne, Devin, Campion, Sean, Cathey, Joshua, Ceraldi, Christopher, Chelko, Madeline, Christmas, Dylan, Cline, Joshua, Collins, Catherine, Conaway, Jenna, Cook, Margaret, Cooper, Savannah, Csehoski, Alexa, Cuevas, Ariel, Davis, Jessica, Davis, Sierra, DeMarcus Jr., William, Dean, Gillian, Demers, Mariel, Desilva, Jordan, Devine, Lauren, Diggs, Abby, Dolaher, Nolan, Dravis, Elizabeth, Ellmaker, Maddox, Esinhart, Kaylie, Eskridge, Madelyn, Espinosa, Elaina, Feder, Hanna, Feder, Madalyn, Ford, Cierra, Frye, Gloria, Fulkerson, Darren, Gammons, Charles, Gauthier, Valerie, Gilland, Caroline, Goergen, Alex, Gold, Alexis, Gonzalez, Seth, Hall, Kailey, Hatcher, Kayla, Henderson, Alyssa, Henson, Lynn, Hermes, Savannah, Howard, Christopher, Hoyt, Lindsay, Huebner, Bailey, Hutchinson, John, Innocenti, Matthew, Jabar, Michael, Jardon-Ramirez, Ulises, Johansson, Mikaela, Johansson, Simon, Johnson, Matthew, Jones, Christian, Lamm, Savannah, Lawrence, Austin, Licastri, Mollie, Lindsay, Jaylen, Mader, Erica, Margraf, Madeleine, Maynard, Kylie, McArthur, Jordan, McClure, Sara, McGee, Charlie, Miller, Mackenzie, Mohn, Bryn, Montoya, Alejandra, Moore, Emma, Mork, Arianna, Morrell, Justin, Myers, Courtney, Myers, Makayla, Nelson, Samuel, Nguyen, David, Novitt, Matthew, Ortiz, Sabrina, Owen, Kaitlyn, Page, Amber, Paniaha, Gantry, Parker, Leigh, Penaranda, Jorge, Petry, Anna, Phillips, Sydney, Pigeon, Emily, Pizzini, Austin, Plummer, Johnathan, Poulson, Grant, Praileau, Irana, Raynsford, Benjamin, Regan, Tasha, Reynolds, Anna, Rice, Davon, Richey, Brecken, Robinson, Aleah, Russell, Nathan, Salm, Caroline, Samuels, Sydney, Sandate, Sarah, Sandry, Luke, Sandry, Megan, Schindler, Daniel, Schott, Gabriel, Sekyi, Sylvia, Shiels, Thomas, Smith, Maya, Smith, Michael, Smith, Tyler, Snedecor, Mark, Sokley, Claire, Soto, Efrain, Spain, Summer, Stephenson, Thomas, Stocks, Zantaria, Summers, Clarke, Tesar, Madison, Tran, Tyler, Truitt, Lauryn, Urtecho, Robert, Usher, Rebecca, Vanegas, Alexa, Walton, Caitlyn, Wheeler, Blake, Whitecavage, Meghan, Whitlock, Andrew, Woods, Jada, Wright, Courtney, Wyatt, Christian, Yoder, Allison, You, Yongzhi, Young, Cameron.
