Nothing brings a community together like a good cause! That’s certainly the case in the Smoky Hill High School community, where students, staff, and families from all ten schools in the Smoky Hill feeder area recently raised more than $30,000 to benefit Make-A-Wish Colorado and grant a special wish for Smoky Hill’s Wish Kid, Amner, a 10-year-old who is battling brain cancer. Amner is a huge soccer fan, and his one true wish is to meet his favorite player, Frenchman Kylian Mbappé, who plays for the Paris Saint-Germain team.
During Smoky Hill’s 13th annual Wish Week, held Jan. 23-27, students organized a variety of fun, fundraising events, including a trivia bowl, a dodgeball tournament, a Miracle Minute, the Mr./Ms./Professor Smoky Hill competition, a DECA marketplace, restaurant nights and Wish Week t-shirt sales. Smoky’s feeder schools – Laredo and Horizon Community middle schools, and Arrowhead, Cimarron, Independence, Indian Ridge, Mission Viejo, Sagebrush and Summit elementary schools – also held special activities so students could learn about, and support, a worthwhile cause.
The week culminated with a special assembly in Amner’s honor. The SHHS gym was packed with students and staff members all wearing shirts with Amner’s name on the back and his age, 10, on the front. When Amner and his family entered the gym, he was overwhelmed with excitement and was brought to tears as the standing-room-only crowd cheered for him.
The high-energy assembly featured performances by the Smoky Hill cheerleaders, dance team, and step team. The student body also had competitions between grade levels, and Amner got to be the judge and choose the winners. He also participated in a soccer shootout competition with the Smoky Hill High School Buffalo mascot. In addition, 9News Sports Reporter Scotty Gange presented Amner with a 9News Swag Chain Award. However, the best part of the event was knowing Make-A-Wish Colorado will be able to grant the wishes of Amner and other children fighting serious illnesses.
After the Wish Week assembly, the Buffaloes recorded their annual “SHHS Lip Dub” video, featuring many of the school’s 2,200+ students and the wide variety of school sports, clubs, and activities those students participate in. Enjoy!!
Posted 2/3/2023.
