Written by: Ada Grabiel
For a while now, about 5 years, Oregon Trail Academy has carried on the tradition that started back in 2017, of Valentines Grams. Valentines Grams are a sweet, kind way to show your friends, your gratitude, and or, love for them. The Grams themselves have usually been two Hershey kisses, wrapped in red cellophane with a green stem to look like roses.
These sweet, and delicious gifts have been the perfect way to show affection, and appreciation for friends. This year, 2022, the members of student council had kindly dedicated recess to take requests. Each valentine gram was 1 dollar, and they were given out by a Cupid, on Monday the 14th of February, Valentines Day! There was no limit to how many you could buy. You could buy them for friends, and for yourself, to show self love. The first Cupid was Benjamin Collins, who was a member of OTA’s first graduating class of 2019.
I interviewed several student council members including, 7th grade Jonah Alexander who played Cupid, this Valentines day, 8th grade Solana Sonnier, The Vice President, And 8th grade Reagan Schwenk, Student Council president. Reagan, Solana, and Jonah have been working very hard to make this happen, Solana has worked countless times selling the valentines grams, and bought 10 herself. This is her first time being an elected student council member. Solana came to OTA in the beginning of this year, and she has accomplished so much. Our Student council president Reagan Schwenk, Has gone to OTA since kindergarten, but many of her relatives have gone here including her aunts. As a previous student council member, she has never had an elected position, but has been working really hard, and has been a great president. Our treasurer, and Cupid Jonah Alexander, Dressed up in a wig, tutu, and halo, and delivered Valentines grams, to classes in 6th period. Jonah has not been in an Elected position before, but participated in it without a position, in previous years.
The Valentines Grams were a huge hit and 165 of them were sold, there are only 71 students and teachers in the school! And over all they made lots of money, which will later be used for more fun activities for all of us students!