Middle School Students Rise to the Occasion, 10K Walk Benefits People with Disabilities at UCP Seguin of Greater Chicago

Lincoln Middle School teachers and students present a check to UCP Seguin to benefit people with disabilities on March 28. These proceeds are the result of their Walk-A-Thon as part of their Youth Leadership & Disabilities Awareness Unit in classes. Pictured left to right are students, Michelle Counsell, Ronaldo Huerta, and Giovanni Quintero, UCP Seguin participants Peter Caden and Maria Vanik (in the front row) and teachers Nicole Lara, Carol Barth, and Allen Josey, UCP Seguin President/CEO John Voit, UCP Seguin Executive Vice President Jim Haptonstahl, and teachers Dina Trekas, and Katherine Kucera (second row). (Posted By Dawneen Suriano, Community Contributor /April 1, 2014)

as posted at Chicago Trib local....
Posted By Dawneen Suriano, Community Contributor

1:19 p.m. CDT, April 1, 2014

Eighth grade students at Lincoln Middle School in Berwyn, Illinois have once again risen to the challenge, showing their outstanding commitment to the community. Last fall they participated in a 10K walk-a-thon to raise funds for UCP Seguin of Greater Chicago (formerly Seguin Services). On Friday March 28 Lincoln proudly presented the proceeds from these students' efforts: a $5,400 check to UCP Seguin to support people with disabilities.

For the past ten years, North Berwyn School District 98's Lincoln Middle School's eighth grade class has participated in the Youth Leadership & Disability Awareness program (YLDA) and held a walk-a-thon to benefit individuals served by Seguin Services, now UCP Seguin of Greater Chicago. Typically conducted at Morton West High School in Berwyn, this event brings UCP Seguin participants with disabilities together with Lincoln students. They walk side-by-side and share in the exercise, fun and food. With this latest contribution, Lincoln Middle School students have raised more than $80,000 over the past decade to benefit UCP Seguin.

The top student fundraisers were Ronaldo Huerta, Michelle Counsell, and Giovanni Quintero, who received special awards and recognition at the March 28 check presentation at Lincoln Middle School.

The Youth Leadership and Disability Awareness project is a joint effort between Lincoln and UCP Seguin. All eighth grade students read a book titled "The Man Who Loved Clowns" by June Rae Wood. The book is about a 13 year-old girl who lives with her parents and her uncle, who has Down syndrome. The story weaves together experiences of growing up, trying to fit in and finding ways to accept individuals with disabilities. The students then spend six weeks increasing their awareness, knowledge and understanding of individuals with disabilities during this multidisciplinary unit.

In this school year UCP Seguin participants visited Lincoln Middle School students for the "UCP Seguin Social" on October 18, for an afternoon of pizza, music, crafts and friendship. On that same day students also enjoyed a personal reading and discussion with author June Rae Wood. The unit culminated in the annual Walk-a-Thon held on October 19 - with proceeds then presented to UCP Seguin on March 28. The funds raised by the students have helped to create a fitness center, and assisted UCP Seguin in providing a range of employment and life skills services to people with disabilities.

UCP Seguin is a charitable social service agency which serves people with developmental disabilities and other special needs. Through this initiative at multiple schools, UCP Seguin has reached over 20,000 elementary and middle school students, helping them to become more aware of and sensitive to persons with disabilities, while also developing leadership skills by conducting special activities.

For more information, please call Kelley Currier at 708.222.5143 or visit www.seguin.org.

About UCP Seguin
UCP Seguin of Greater Chicago is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit human services agency dedicated to enriching the lives of people with disabilities. Providing programs and services from birth to old age, UCP Seguin helps children and adults with disabilities achieve their potential, advance their independence and act as vital members of the community. Its programs include innovative training and education, family support, employment and life-skills training, and residential services.

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