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Graduating With A Mission

Courtesy photo

From left: Walker Memorial Academy Senior Class Vice President Brad Walz and Senior Class President Erica Lumucso check a map of the Honduran island of Roatan. Instead of cruise or trip to a major metropolitan city in the U.S., the Class of 2009 is planning a mission trip for its senior class trip after graduating in May.

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By MARC VALERO

Highlands Today

Published: December 8, 2008

AVON PARK - Instead of a cruise or a trip to New York City, the Walker Memorial Academy Class of 2009 is setting its sights on a mission trip to Honduras.

It will be the academy's first senior class trip that will be a mission journey, senior class vice president Brad Walz said.

"Our class is really about helping people; everyone wants to help someone," he said. "Instead of going on a cruise or New York or Boston like previous classes, we decided to do this."

The week after graduating in May, the 11-student senior class is going to create landscaping at two medical clinics in Roatan, Honduras.

Brad's parents, Doug and Kaylene, created the Make it Count Foundation to help people in the Central American country.

Kaylene is Walker Memorial Academy's National Honor Society advisor.

After traveling to Honduras three years ago to rebuild a medical clinic, the Walzes started the foundation to fund a return trip to renovate another medical clinic. Brad, along with 25 others, went on the return mission trip with his parents in 2007.

They rebuilt and renovated, helping to double the capacity at both clinics, Kaylene said.

They ran out of time to do any landscaping, so the seniors will do the job. The landscaping will help inhibit land erosion, which is a big problem during the rainy season.

The trip for the 11 seniors will cost about $20,000 so the students are involved in various fundraising activities.

Class President Erica Lumucso said the fundraising efforts include: monthly pancake breakfasts, making and selling eggrolls, a letter writing campaign seeking donations and an upcoming talent/bake show.

The students will fly to La Ceiba, Honduras and then take another plane to Roatan, which is an island in the Caribbean Sea.

Lumucso said they will be able to do the hard work.

"We are going to have fun," Brad added. "We always have fun no matter what we do."

Donations can be made to: Walker Memorial Academy Foundation, 1525 W. Avon Blvd., Avon Park, Fl 33825.

Marc Valero can be reached at 386-5826 or mvalero@highlandstoday.com

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