Student Loralie Cramer and the CTI student council spearheaded the red poppy project, which raises money for veterans.
Uniontown, PA - Red poppies are a nationally recognized symbol of the sacrifices made by U.S. military personnel who served and died for their country. Now, Fayette County residents can wear the floral tribute all year long while also raising money for veterans, thanks to a project undertaken by some local students.
Fayette County Career & Technical Institute (CTI) Technology Coordinator Dan Hoff explained that a student at the Uniontown school came up with the idea of creating metal poppies to sell, with proceeds going to fund veterans’ needs.
“Her name is Loralie Cramer. She’s a junior in the machine production shop,” Hoff said. “She originally interfaced with Cheryl Olson.”
Olson is a cosmetology teacher and student council advisor at the school. She said the student council spearheaded the project. “Our kids are amazing at our school. They really are,” Olson said, noting the students deserve all the credit.
Although students in the machine production shop are creating the poppies, the project also has brought other fields of study into the process.
“We have an engineering class that did the powder coating,” Hoff noted. “The students in cosmetology used fingernail polish to make the red color on the poppies.”
Hoff said the poppies measure about one square inch. They are being offered as pins, mounted atop red, white and blue ribbons; or as keychains. Stickers featuring the flower and bearing the phrase, “lest we forget,” can also be purchased.
Keychains sell for $5, with pins going for $3 each. Stickers are $1.
The CTI students reached out to Hoff for assistance in donating the proceeds from the sale of the poppies.
“They want to donate the money that they receive,” he said.
Hoff said the students want the funds to go toward helping local veterans. To that end, he has been in touch with Fayette County Veterans Affairs Director Brian Bensen. Together, they are in the process of deciding exactly how the poppies will benefit those who have served.
For more information or to purchase a pin, keychain or sticker, contact Fayette County CTI at 724-437-2721.
Editor's Note: Photos attached (Pin; Keychain; Lest We Forget Flyer)
###
This communication, among other initiatives, is funded through the 2016 Fayette County Local Share Account (LSA) in cooperation with the Fayette County Board of Commissioners, Fayette Chamber of Commerce, The Redevelopment Authority of the County of Fayette, The Redstone Foundation and other partners. This funding has been designated for the continued promotion and marketing of Fayette County, PA.
For more information, contact Kristi Kassimer Harper, Public Relations Specialist, at 724-437-4571, kkassimer@fayettecountypa.info or Jamie Rankin, Journalist, at 724-437 4571, jamierankin13@gmail.com.
