North Sanpete students swing into service by repainting stadium
Daniela Vazquez
Staff writer
8-25-2016
MT. PLEASANT—Three North Sanpete High sports teams have united as one to form the North Sanpete High (NSH) Service Squad in an effort to give back to their school and the community.
The cheerleaders wanted to find ways to give back through acts of service, and said they would start by giving the stadium a mini facelift.
News about the facelift traveled to other teams, cheerleading coach Syndi Wilkey told the Messenger. The girls on the volleyball team asked how they could have a hand in the effort, and the football players offered to help kick off the event. Thus, the NSH Service Squad was born.
“This is such a great thing for the school and it gives us such a great boost,” Principal Nan Ault said. “It’s good for kids to take on responsibility.”
In the past, people in the audience complained of an overload of school pride coming from students in the stands creating an uncomfortable environment for visitors, cheerleading coach Syndi Wilkey told the Messenger.
To solve the issue, students created a blueprint to include sectioned-off seating areas for students based on paint color.
The center section is painted white and meant for students. Although the section is available for anyone to sit in, students ask that anyone who occupies the area remember that bursts of high energy are a common occurrence on game day.
The remaining sections were painted red, and the announcer’s booth and concession stands also received a fresh coat of paint.
Artisit and NSH alumni Lesa Thomas volunteered to paint the fine details throughout the stadium, such as the mascot and lettering on the announcer’s booth. For Thomas, being a “Hawk” doesn’t end after graduation.
“I think the Service Squad is a great idea,” Thomas said. “I’m volunteering my efforts because I wouldn’t be who I am today if it weren’t for the influential people who volunteered on my behalf when I was a young Hawk.”
The cheerleaders said they planned on paying for the project, but Ault said, “The school would fund the project if the kids did the work.”
The work was extended to cleaning up surface debris and pulling weeds around the stadium grounds, and the work was completed in a single night.
The volleyball players said they purchased NSH Service Squad T-shirts to give the newly formed team a feel of unity.
“It’s hard for everyone to get things done, so we need some help,” Ault said. “We appreciate the help and we’ve got some great advisors.”
The entire project is due to be completed by Thursday, ending with the detail painting by Thomas.
