By Michael Fabatz, Hannah Swain, Erin Johnson & Emily Hittle
Fentonian
Fenton HS
Division 2, Yearbook
Organizations Writing
Four years after Katie Wyatt passed away from renal cell carcinoma, the seniors on student council chose to honor her by sending a portion of the profits from the Sadie Hawkins dance to the Rainbow Connection, a charity chosen by her family, in Katie’s name.
“Because this is the year she would have graduated, it was important to the seniors to find a way to recognize her,” senior Logan Beltinick said. “She impacted our class with her optimistic attitude and witty personality. She could make anyone smile and put them in a better mood, even when she was in pain. We want to remember who she was and I know there is no other way she would have wanted to end her senior year than dancing alongside her closest friends.”
To honor her impact on the senior class, the student council chose to call the fundraiser Sadie’s for Katie.
“I was excited to hear the Sadie’s fundraiser was dedicated to Katie because she was one of my closest friends when I moved to Fenton in seventh grade,” senior Taylor James said. “It reassured me that the memory of her still lives on and even though she’s not physically here, she is still affecting people in a positive way.”
Raising money for the cause came from more than just the dance tickets, but also t-shirts that were designed in honor of Katie’s personality.
“I purchased one of the Sadie’s t-shirts to support the fundraiser in honor of Katie, who had been one of my closest friends since elementary school,” senior Kendrah Praedel said. “The shirts were blue with pink and black writing on them. Pink and blue were her two favorite colors and because they are so uplifting and happy, I think that they truly represent her upbeat and outgoing personality.”
When the profits of the Sadie’s fundraiser were tallied, a total of $800 was sent to the Rainbow Connection, a charity that helped make the dreams of local children with life threatening illnesses come true, in honor of Katie’s memory.