ASHLAND – A pet. An Xbox. A monster truck.
Those were a few of the ideas Ashland area students came up when asked to imagine what they would do with $100.
But for two local third graders who read the April prompt for Ashland Times-Gazette’s Kids’ Page, education and charity came to mind first.
“If I had $100 I would buy school supplies,” wrote Mapleton Elementary School’s Claire Heater. “Why? Because I want to have school supplies for fourth grade. I would buy an eraser, a pencil, journals and more. I would also buy books and a binder. Then I would go to school with my school supplies.”
Reagan Elementary School’s Megan Shoenberger wrote that she would give to poor people, to one of her friends, to charity and to all of the teachers she has ever had, including her current teacher, Caren Carlisle.
“I got teary eyed,” Carlisle said. “It was very sweet.”
Touched by those answers, Ashland University president Carlos Campo decided surprise the students with $100 gift cards to Walmart. The gift cards were presented by university representatives Wednesday. Both students also received a “Future Eagle” t-shirt and a letter of acceptance to Ashland University, offering them admission to the university’s class of 2027.
“You’re the type of student we’d like to have on our campus,” Director of Admission W.C. Vance told Heater as he presented the admission letter to her.
Heater said she loves school and can’t wait to go to Walmart to pick out school supplies– crayons are her favorite.
Heater’s math teacher, Rhonda Forbes, said Heater thanks her every single day for teaching. Heater was also student of the month last month.
Mapleton Elementary Principal Michelle Roblin said it was an honor to have a student recognized by the university.
“They’re elementary kids and you’re not really thinking about their future in college quite yet, but I was really excited when the president’s office called me last week to say they’d like to recognize Claire,” she said.
Shoenberger said she felt both excited and embarrassed when when she learned she would be getting a special recognition from the university.
She wasn’t looking for attention but just wanted to use her short essay to think of ways to be nice to other people.
Carlisle said Shoenberger’s response to the prompt was typical of her personality as Shoenberger tends to be one of the classroom’s leaders in kindness and inclusion.
