Minnetonka High School Seniors Willing To Serve

In a tradition that has taken place for at least the past eight years, seniors have spent their last days before graduation giving back to their community.

On Wednesday morning, some students arrived before 6 a.m. to wait in line to sign up for their favorite service projects. Students could not officially sign up until 7 a.m. Descriptions of the volunteer opportunities were posted days in advanced and included cleaning, planting, or mulching, assisting with kindergarten field day or other school projects, and completing projects for senior citizens.

There were about 1000 positions open, said teacher Polly Patrick who was credited with initiating the program with a group of teachers. She said that at first many were skeptical that the high school seniors would choose to end the year volunteering, but each year, at least 80 percent of the senior class has participated.

This year a few senior girls arrived so early to guarantee their first place in line that they looked a bit groggy, said another teacher Connie Strand. She arrived at 6:15 a.m. and said that even then the line went out the cafeteria, which is where the sign-up took place. It is during such mornings that Strand remembers why she teaches.

“When you see them lining up in the morning,” she said, “this is why I do this.”

Students will complete their service projects June 5 and 6 in morning and afternoon shifts. 

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