My Favorite Recipes: Meet the Colfax High School ASB Leadership Class

Linda Marler | Apr 06, 20160

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Colfax ASB Class

The Associated Student Body leadership class at Colfax High School. Front row: Olivia Mellor, Sarah Kraut, Ashtyn Aune, Lauren Claassen and Taylor Garcia. Back row: Reggie Jones, Tobie Warwick, Christopher Koenig and Danny Robinson.

Colfax High School leadership class is taught by Heidi Lowe, and members of the class are either student body officers or students committed to helping plan and carry out student activities. Their current project is a huge one – hosting the St. Baldrick’s Foundation fundraiser on April 13 at the high school gymnasium.

Any students interested in shaving their heads or wishing to cut six inches of hair must have permission from a parent, even if the student is 18 years old. Signing up for shaving and cutting and turning in permission slips need to be done as soon as possible. Signing up allows students to login to the website, print donation forms and track donations.

People wishing to donate can go online to https://www.stbaldricks. org/events/mypage/8424/2016. This links to the Colfax event, and then one may donate online for this event.

Students who do not wish to shave or cut hair may still help by volunteering. They can contact Mrs. Lowe or any ASB representative to sign up.

St. Baldrick’s Foundation is the only organization providing funds exclusively for childhood cancer research, and head shaving is its attention-getting trademark. St. Baldrick’s is second only to the federal government in providing pediatric cancer research funds. It is a volunteer-driven charity, and it began as a challenge between business leaders.

Adult cancers generate far more research grants and projects. However, treatable childhood cancers can have a high rate of recovery. Finding those effective treatments is vital to improving outcomes for children.

Leading the committee for the St. Baldrick’s event are ASB president Ashtyn Aune; Christopher Koenig, vice president; Sarah Kraut, secretary; Olivia Mellor, treasurer, and co-treasurer Lauren Claassen. Other committee members are Reggie Jones, Tobie Warwick, Danny Robinson, Caleb Brown and Taylor Garcia.

With a goal of $10,000, there are rewards for helping reach that goal. Each student who becomes involved with the fundraising receives a T-shirt after raising $50. The winning seventh-12th grade class receives a pizza party which is donated by Westside Pizza. Most of all, there is the satisfaction of helping raise funds for research which affects the lives of those who are near to the community and local families.

Claassen said, “Kids are impacted here–very motivated.” Kids know that there is cancer here. Very much on students’ minds are Konnor Stirling recently and Dr. Greg Aune in the 1990’s.

“Kids can get involved and be part of something!” noted Kraut.

The students had a lot of planning to do. They had to get student council and principal’s approval and then plan the decorating and events, find guest speakers, hair dressers and people willing to have their heads shaved or six inches of hair cut. St. Baldrick’s sends the posters and permission slips. Posters are prominently displayed all over Colfax.

Dr. Aune will appear by video recording, as well as the CEO of St. Baldrick’s. Dr. Aune, a survivor of childhood cancer, works as a pediatric oncologist, with his own practice treating children with cancer, as well as researching childhood cancer. His emphasis is on finding effective treatments that do less damage to children. He has suffered the side effects of the treatments that saved his life, and he and other pediatric cancer researchers are looking for better medications.

St. Baldrick’s fund raiser started four years ago with Brian and Marie Becker leading the effort. It has been successful, achieving more than $5,000 the first year, and near or above $10,000 after that.

Every year, school personnel, students and other citizens have raised funds by promising to shave their heads or cut their hair if their goals are met. Jerry Pugh, superintendent of Colfax schools, will shave his head if his goal of $2,500 is met. Fred Brannan of Colfax, retired LaCrosse teacher whose wife Tenny taught in Colfax, will shave his head if he raises $250.

Doing the shaving and hair cutting for the St. Baldrick’s event are Robin Jones, Robin Erickson, Jessie Ensley, Allie Cofer, Wes Hennigar and Chelsey Startin. Some have participated every year. Several more may be added to ply their skills.

For a rousing good time with head shaving, hair cutting, event T-shirts, interesting speakers and a lot of money being raised, be at Colfax High School Gymnasium at 12:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Favorite recipes of ASB Leadership Class:

Make-Ahead Lettuce Salad

by Ashtyn Aune

1 head of iceberg lettuce, shredded

1 cup diced celery

1 can water chestnuts, sliced

1 package uncooked frozen peas, unthawed

1 bunch of green onions, sliced

3 cups mayonnaise

3 Tablespoons sugar

cooked bacon pieces

3 hard-cooked eggs

1 cup grated cheese

Arrange ingredients in the following order in a 9x13 dish: Lettuce, celery, water chestnuts, green onions and frozen peas. Mix mayonnaise and sugar and cover salad with dressing to marinate at least eight hours or overnight. Garnish with bacon, hard-boiled eggs and grated cheese before serving.

Cake Mix Cookies

by Lauren Claassen

1 package cake mix (chocolate or lemon are best)

2 eggs

1/2 cup oil

1 Tablespoon water

powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

Mix ingredients well and roll into balls, then roll in powdered sugar and place on greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees F for 8 to 10 minutes.

Remove to wire rack to cool.

Banana Bread

by Sarah Kraut

3 very ripe bananas, mashed

2 eggs

1/3 cup melted butter

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

2 3/4 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 cup chopped walnuts.

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spray loaf baking pan with nonstick spray.

In a medium bowl, combine mashed bananas, eggs, butter, sugar and vanilla extract. Mix thoroughly. Then add dry ingredients - flour baking powder, salt and cinnamon. Mix until combined. Then stir in chopped walnuts. Pour batter into prepared baking dish.

Bake for about an hour at 325 degrees. Bread should spring back to the touch, or you can insert a toothpick in the middle. It should come out clean.

Black Bottom Cupcakes

Filling

Whip together in bowl:

8 oz. cream cheese

1/3 c. sugar

1 egg

pinch of salt

Blend in a small package of chocolate chips.

Set aside.

In another bowl combine the following ingredients:

1 1/2 cups flour