Throughout September, Madison College Student Ambassadors conducted a fundraiser to help replenish a scholarship fund that has recently run dry.

The scholarship is presented to students who receive the Karen Roberts Student Life Leadership Award at the end of the year. It is considered the highest honor awarded to student leaders at Madison College.

Students qualify for the award by holding a leadership position in a student organization or club and being nominated for the honor by others on the basis of the exemplary performance. In prior years, the scholarship amount varied upwards of $250.

After discovering the scholarship fund was empty, Student Ambassador advisor Doug Kirchberg asked his students to do something to change that.

“It felt wrong not to give the scholarship to students who have done so much for the college,” he said.

Determined to keep the scholarship alive, Kirchberg challenged Student Ambassadors to come up with plans to raise money.

Out of this process, 20 ideas were crafted, which went to a vote. The top-ranking ideas were discussed and vetted for their viability. By the end, a “coin and cash war/dunk tank hybrid” was the champion.

The ambassadors recruited students and staff who were willing to spend time in the dunk tank and held a competition to determine which of them would be selected.

Collection jars were placed in Student Life for people to contribute and thereby cast their votes. On these jars were faces of students, faculty, and staff, who could be potential, and reluctant, winners.

Of the students’ jars, the three with the most cash will be dunked. The same is true for the top six staff jars.

Staff contestants included: Larry Hansen, journalism instructor; Geraldo Vila Cruz, Dean of Students; Joe Steffen, Public Safety; Jackie Dahlke, former Senate advisor; Carl Peterson, Advising and Registration coordinator; Brianna Stapleton-Welch, Volunteer Center Coordinator; Jamal Palmer, men’s basketball coach; Aunton Terry, Peer Mentor advisor; Candice Jacobs, Programs and Activities Council and Executive Leadership Team advisor; Ellie Rome, Student Senate advisor; Jonathan Pollack, history instructor; Lois Heeren, women’s basketball coach; Ro Encizo, United Common Ground advisor.

Student contestants were: Keyiona Johnson, Student Senator; Eric Hotchkiss, student; Shannon Hintz, BSU president; Tina Marshalek, former Senate president; Dyshia Kinsey, United Common Ground; Andrew Kicmol, Clarion editor in chief; Sarah Burns, Student Ambassador; Jhoan Cosme-Torres, Student senator; and Steven Ansorge, current Student Senate president.

“Winners” will rotate in 20-minute shifts during Campus Fun Day, on Sept. 27, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. If you recognize any names above, stop by the dunk tank during Campus Fun Day to make an on-the-spot donation and test your arm.

Kirchberg said the Student Ambassadors were please so many people were willing to volunteer to help raise funds for the scholarship account, even if it meant subjecting themselves to a possible splash down.

Between the coin and cash war and the dunk tank activity, the Student Ambassadors hope to raise at least $500 for the scholarship account.

Additional fund-raisers for the Karen Roberts Student Life Leadership Award scholarships are being planned.