Mountain High’s DECA Club is sponsoring Penny Wars this week, November 18-21, to benefit Youth Futures, a shelter for homeless teens in Ogden. The money earned through the competition will be used to purchase fleece, with which MHS students will make blankets during a schoolwide Day of Service on November 26.
“Our goal is to raise $1,200,” said Jayden, one of the event’s student coordinators. Last year, we raised $1,000, and we’re feeling pretty confident that we can beat that.”
MHS math teacher Federico Urquijo-Ibarrola was already making the rounds Monday morning, sabotaging other teachers by adding quarters to the jars in their classrooms. While pennies and dollar bills are worth positive points, silver change counts against a classroom’s score.
“I want my class to win this year because I think it’s a natural human desire to be the winner in every contest,” Urquijo-Ibarrola said. “If this contest is for a good cause, even better.
Urquijo-Ibarrola is hoping to unseat last year’s champion, history teacher John Pitt, and he knows the competition will be fierce. “In 2023, Mr. Pitt won by telling his class that he was sacrificing money for snacks to feed his grandchildren,” Urquijo-Ibarrola said.
“That may have been a bit of an exaggeration,” retorted Pitt, with a grin, “but my desire to win is such that I have accepted a position in the Trump Cabinet. I will be the Secretary of Fundraising in the new administration.”
Twenty MHS teachers and the front office are competing in MHS’ 2024 Penny Wars, and the winner will be announced on November 25, during morning announcements. Coveted prizes include limited-edition MHS merch and a traveling coin-themed trophy, emblazoned with a likeness of the winning teacher’s face.
“Along with having fun, we want people to participate because it’s important to help homeless teens who can’t provide for themselves,” Jayden said.
“We understand that not everyone can contribute money,” added Kayla Kaiser, Mountain High’s DECA advisor, “but they will still be able to help on our Day of Service.”
The MHS DECA Club has asked the community to participate in preparation for the Day of Service by donating 65” x 90” pieces of fleece, twin-sized sheet sets, or money that will be used to purchase fleece and sheets. Donations are tax-deductible and should be delivered to Mountain High School by November 22. For more information, please contact Kaiser at (801) 402-0450 or kakaiser@dsdmail.net.