Seymour High School set a new record in the Lloyd E. Scott Gymnasium on November 23, but it had nothing to do with basketball. It involved dancing for the kids and families of Riley Hospital for Children. Seymour’s Dance Marathon record-setting year raised $32,445.55, topping its $30,002.55 total in 2022.
Partnering with Indiana University for the 4th year, Seymour began its marathon in 2014 with Purdue University. “Basically, Mr. Greg Prange read an article in the paper about a high school in Indy having their dance marathon and he told Talmadge (Reasoner), I want us to do that here. So, student government held its first DM in 2014 with Purdue University as our collegiate partner. Our total since we’ve started is $196,006.23.” Franklin College was also an SHS partner for several years.
Students worked hard all year to raise the funds. President Allison Rodriguez set a personal goal: “I knew I wanted to break 30,000, but I felt like it was impossible. I collected almost 150 dollars from my tips and put it in my donor drive in hopes that we’d come close to it.” One SHS tradition is senior parking spot painting, but this year teachers were allowed to paint a spot. With 30 faculty members participating, DM raised $3000. They hope to continue this offering next year. Penny Wars at the middle, elementary, and parochial schools also returned with great success. The highest total was collected at Jackson Elementary, but every school made an important contribution to the total. Whether it was selling the famous chocolate chip cookies or collecting money at school events, many hands made this donation possible. Without the community partners, this record total may not have been possible. The students are grateful to the local community for its support as well as for the collaboration among SHS student leaders. “This took months of planning and hard work from not only us but also our amazing executive team. We are grateful,” said Rodriquez.
For Co-Presidents Allison Rodriguez and Katie Cottrill, this Dance Marathon had an even deeper meaning. Both seniors have older brothers who held past SHS DM leadership positions, Brandon Rodriguez in 2023 and Will Cottrill in 2022, and have continued raising money for Riley Hospital in college. In leadership at IUDM and PUDM, they have inspired their sisters to do the same. Rodriguez explained, “I admired my brother in seeing how dedicated and passionate he was during his senior year. Being able to share this moment with Brandon was so dear to my heart.”
Rodriquez shared, “This was the best possible way to end my last dance marathon. I told Katie I didn’t think I was going to cry, yet I was the first one to cry before the unveiling even happened. As soon as I lifted my number, I quickly looked up and saw a 3. The tears began to shed even more once I saw a 2 on Katie’s poster board. I know Katie and I will see eye-to-eye in Dance Marathon, even at our future rival schools.”
Katie Cottrill had the opportunity to visit Purdue University’s Dance Marathon in November as a guest of her brother Will, one of the Morale Engagement Chairs. During a presentation from Jenny Puntillo, a Riley Child Life Specialist, she learned that the 30 Child Life Specialists are paid through the donations raised at events like this. “Having a cousin studying to be a CLS at Michigan State University, it hit home how important our fundraising is. A CLS helps families and patients prepare for the aspects of procedures and treatments. They calm the kids and parents with art and play. Without our money, kids may be really scared before surgery,” Cottrill said. Since their services are not billable items, Riley does not have money coming from funding, insurance, or patient payments. They need the dancers.
176 was the number of SHS students who attended this year’s event. Each student paid $20 which included food, drinks, games, crafts, inflatable entertainment, and guest speakers. Will Cottrill encouraged students to continue being involved with dance marathons in college. He also spoke about the National Marrow Donor Program (Formerly Be The Match) and his stem cell donation in May. Cottrill was matched to a 73-year-old, female cancer patient and donated in Houston, Texas.
Rodriguez and Cottrill were emotional as the team revealed their total. “This total was the sweetest surprise. We never thought we could beat the school record. Once we saw the 32 in the total, Allison and I started bawling. We had always talked about wanting to become DM Presidents, but we had the chance to pursue that dream together. Standing alongside my best friends for a cause we all love is life-changing. Also, having my older brother there was incredible. Recently, we’ve bonded over our love for helping others, especially through Dance Marathon. Hopefully, I’ll join him at Purdue dancing for Riley next year. The kids need us.”
This year’s Executive Board included the following students:
Senior Allison Rodriguez, President/Marketing
Senior Katie Cottrill, President/Social Media
Senior Brylee Ramsey, Marketing
Senior Averie Linville, Fundraising
Senior Valeria Galacia, Fundraising
Senior Ty Tormoehlen, Marketing
Senior Donovan Delgadillo, Marketing
Senior Alana Jacobi, Social Media
Senior Ashley Darlage, Decorating
Junior Amber Ault, Decorating
Sophomore Colin Hartung, Decorating
Sophomore Eli Reasoner, Decorating
Thank you to our Community Partners: Schneck Hospital, El Nopal, Beatty Insurance, Bob Poynter Dealership, Luz Detailing, Tio Migue, J&M Construction, Buffalo Wild Wings, Seymour Pediatrics, Mexico Chiquito LLC, Majestic Casket, Seymour Healthy Zone, Crave Nutrition, Family Drug in Brownstown, Klaes Chiropractic, Pizza Palace, Dairy Queen in Brownstown, Domino’s Pizza, Starbucks, Aldi, Culligan, McDonald’s, Freddy’s, and Pepsi.
