Westlake PTA event raises money for scholarships

Westlake Superintendent Scott Goggin presents Westlake HS senior Alex Krystynak with the Dollar$ for Scholars' student MVP award.

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Over 600 people recently attended Westlake Council of PTAs annual Dollar$ for Scholars (DFS) event at Westlake High School to raise money for scholarships for graduating Westlake High School seniors. 

Since 1968, Westlake Council has continued the proud tradition of awarding scholarships to deserving Westlake High School seniors who plan to pursue higher education at a college, university or technical school. Scholarships are awarded for traditional academic pursuits, as well as for the arts, STEM/technology and a life challenge.

The Westlake Council and its eight member PTAs fundraise for these scholarships in many ways, including programming, membership drives, and the annual Dollar$ for Scholars event. Due to overwhelming support for Council and its member PTAs' fundraising efforts, Westlake Council of PTAs and its member PTA units awarded a total of $21,000 in scholarships to graduating Westlake High School seniors last May.

While the goal of Dollar$ for Scholars is to raise enough money for Council to award ten $1,000 scholarships, the main event and other activities make the evening a memorable, fun, family-friendly outing.

The highlight of the evening?  The basketball game where Westlake City School District (WCSD) teachers and staff faced off against Westlake High School seniors in a perennial battle for bragging rights. Parents, students and community members attended to cheer on their favorite teacher, principal or senior student. WHS seniors Torrey Santora and Franki Grignon sang the national anthem before the tip-off, and Ned Lauver, WHS assistant principal, provided play-by-play announcements, while Paige Bowman and Erica Francesconi were the official scorekeepers.

At halftime, Westlake's own Dreamin' Demons, a cheerleading squad of fourth-grade to sixth-grade girls coached by WHS cheerleaders, performed, and children were invited to shoot free throws on the main court for $1.

For those not interested in basketball, the event had plenty of other activities to entice students and parents. Concessions provided a quick dinner or snacks, and in the WHS rotunda an extensive array of silent auction baskets and raffle items were available, as well as raffle tickets for a $1,000 cash prize. Children's activities for $1 each, such as hair painting, face painting, poster making and mini basketball hoops, kept volunteers busy throughout the evening.

The success of Westlake Council of PTAs' annual Dollar$ for Scholars event is due to the tremendous support from its member PTA units and their parent volunteers, and the WCSD teachers and staff. Westlake Board of Education members also volunteered the night of the event, and community members donated their time for "sale" in the silent auction. Westlake Mayor Dennis Clough donated "Lunch with the Mayor"; Westlake Porter Public Library Director Andrew Mangels donated "Librarian for a Day"; and Westlake Superintendent Scott Goggin donated "Pizza with the Superintendent."

At the end of the evening, many happy parents and children left Westlake High School carrying a silent auction basket or raffle item, and the WCSD staff basketball team triumphed over the Westlake High School senior students. In a very close game, the staff won 50-44 over the students. Mr. Chris Milano was named MVP for the staff team and Alex Krystynak was named MVP for the senior student team.

Westlake Council of PTAs consists of 8 local PTAs organized under the authority of Ohio PTA for the purpose of promoting conference, communications, leadership development, and the coordination of the efforts of its member PTAs.