RE LOG - Spring 2017

36 Ransom Everglades LOG SPRING 2017 Service On Campus Hearts Wide Open Students extend special friendships at holiday party The boys’ soccer team invited soccer players from Miami Jackson Senior High to Ransom Everglades for a “college application workshop” in January. The Jackson students were paired up with RE seniors and, under the guidance of an outside college counseling consultant, the visiting students created “Common App” accounts, filled out applications, drafted personal essay statements, and learned a bit about navigating the college-application process and financial-aid maze. The RE students were familiar with the program, so they sought to assist their peers at Jackson. The RE-Jackson pairs exchanged phone numbers to allow the RE students to continue to offer support throughout the college process, extending the REACH (Ransom Everglades Athletes Can Help) project. “The RE kids loved being so engaged with other students,” Raiders Coach Dave Villano ’79 said. “We’d like to expand the program eventually.” Teaming Up Boys’ soccer reaches out to Miami Jackson Senior High The RE club also brought guitars (for caroling) and holiday- themed desserts, refreshments and snacks. The kids enjoyed the gifts, munchies and music, and spent much of the time singing and dancing. RE students who attended were Delilah Lubarsky ’17 , club president; Raquel Coronell ’18, vice president; Armando Brito ’17, treasurer; Matthew Sclar ’17 ; Cristina Otero ’17 ; Ben Arriola ’18 ; and Benji Freeman ’17 . Club secretary Tatiana Pereira ’17 could not make it. “As always, it’s a pleasure for the members of the club to see the UCP students, whom we have become very close with since we’ve been going to visit for about five years now,” Coronell said. “For both them and us, it’s reuniting with old friends who overcome barriers to grow and have fun together.” Members of the United Cerebral Palsy club spent a day during the school’s holiday break at the UCP Center of South Florida, delivering personalized holiday gifts and extending what has become a deep friendship with some of the children. Each UCP of South Florida student had previously written a holiday wish list; the requests included a make-up set for one of the girls, a gold chain for a boy who loves hip-hop, a Christmas animal book for another boy, a number of Lego sets and Miami Heat T-shirts.