Community Corner

Minnetonka Students Wear Pink For Danielle

From coast to coast and across continents, people on Wednesday 'Pinked Out' to grieve and celebrate the life of Danielle Renninger.

Students in high schools and on college campuses all over the world—from Minnetonka to England—wore pink to school Wednesday in honor of Danielle Renninger and the three other women who died in a Presidents' Day crash.

Renninger, a 2011 graduate of Minnetonka High School, was riding in the car headed back to North Dakota State University on Monday afternoon. The car's driver, Lauren Peterson, 18, of Prior Lake; and passengers Jordan Playle, 19, of Elk River; and Megan Sample, 18 of Rogers; also died from their injuries. 

Julia Goodwin, a student at MHS, started a Pink-Out for Danielle public event on Facebook to encourage people everywhere to wear pink on Wednesday.

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"Danielle was such a presence at our school and in the community that we had to do something to celebrate her life," she said. 

On Wednesday, pink was everywhere. Facebook users posted photos of themselves donning in all shades of pink and wrote comments of support such as "Pink at Michigan State!," "Got my pink on here in Iowa :) Love ya," "Wearing an all pink jumpsuit just for you Danielle!" and "Sporting pink all the way from England for the girls." The Facebook page is http://www.facebook.com/events/243905409031478/

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Students in Minnetonka were touched by the reach of their message.

"We've heard from all across the country—Minnetonka alumni joined together and wore their pink," Goodwin said. "We also heard from Helsinki and Germany. It was surprising the amount of support we received."

Goodwin said some people questioned the Pink-Out, saying students should just be grieving. Instead, students chose to also celebrate Renninger's life.

"Today, pink was everywhere, and anyone hurting knew they could turn to anyone who was wearing pink for support and understanding," Goodwin explained.

Services for Danielle Renninger are 11 a.m. on Friday at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Excelsior. 

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