By Staff
Executive
Henry Ford II HS
1st Place
Division 3, Yearbook Verbal
In late July of 2017, senior Brandon Matja would walk out of a doctor’s office not knowing what would be his next step. Matja had been diagnosed with cancer which greatly impacted his current lifestyle. This experience inspired him to help those who went through the same struggles as he did.
As part of his DECA project, Matja held a Snowcoming on January 25 to raise money for those who have fallen victim to cancer.
“I wanted to give back to the community that helped me so much,” Matja said. “My own experience really opened my eyes to a whole community that desperately needed help.”
With the fun and enjoyment of another dance, one hundred percent of the profit made from this dance went straight to the Child Cancer Center at Beaumont, the same place that Matja was treated just two years ago.
“I was never really afraid to die, I was more afraid of falling behind and not being able to do things that I love, such as playing soccer,” Matja said.
Matja began treatment on December 21 and was completely cancer free late March 2017.
“I wanted to create this dance because I know how many kids have wanted to have a dance like this and I thought it’d be a fun DECA project,” Matja said. “Most importantly, I wanted to raise money for an important cause and make a real difference in the world.”
The whole DECA board had separate parts in creating this dance. Each member had an important role in planning and organizing. There were several people who worked hard to make this dance possible.
The dance had a limited amount of tickets for sale, so the banquet hall wouldn’t be too packed or too empty. This semi-formal event was held in Shelby Gardens banquet hall and only costs $20. The dress code specifies that girls should wear dresses and stay away from sweats, pants and jeans and boys should wear suits.
“As a member of the board of DECA, I wanted to create and brainstorm with my friends on this project. I wanted to be a part of something bigger that would make an impact, but still be able to stay behind the scenes,” senior Melanie Walker said.
Each member of the DECA board had helped contribute to the creation of the Snowcoming dance with Matja. Matja’s personal experience and friendships helped the DECA board to make something larger than themselves. The creation of this dance shows that any group of people can band together to make the world a better place, as long as they care enough about the cause.
“As a member of the board of DECA, I wanted to create and brainstorm with my friends on this idea, and I wanted to be apart of something bigger that would make an impact, but still able to stay behind the scenes,” Walker said.
Matja and the DECA students were excited and humbled to host the first charity Snowcoming.
“My experience with cancer has helped me gain a new perspective and realize all the aspects of life that are truly important. I have a new appreciation of the days I have ahead of myself and I’m more determined to live life to the fullest,” Matja said. “It also opened the door to my passion for motivational speaking and I hope to help others who have been through what I have with my voice.”
Y-05. Organizations Writing
A story that gives the reader a fresh view of the organization. An individual story may not be submitted in more than one writing category. Submit a PDF of the page(s) showing the entry. CLEARLY INDICATE WHICH STORY YOU WISH JUDGED in Additional Information field if there are multiple stories on the page.
JUDGING CRITERIA
- Solid lead that draws reader into story
- Meaningful student quotes that enrich story and reflect effective interviewing
- Evidence of adequate research
- Story does not center on purpose of group or simply review their activities
- Adheres to rules of good journalism including: short paragraphs, effective transitions and use of active voice, freedom from editorial comment, careful editing and proofreading to eliminate mechanical errors, correct use of grammar