Every year, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS) holds a Man and Woman of the Year competition recognizing those who have contributed significantly to the medical community.

Just this year, the society introduced a new Student of the Year competition for extraordinary high school students who have strongly supported patients suffering from blood cancer.

“The objective of this campaign is to develop skills such as leadership, teach the importance of philanthropy and provide the opportunity to network with other individuals with similar interests,” Meagan Sweeney, campaign manager of special events at LLS, said.

Adam DeGuire, senior, demonstrated by creating a fundraiser on behalf of the LLS to help patients suffering from blood cancer.

On Thursday, Feb 25, DeGuire launched his fundraiser. DeGuire hopes to raise around $10,000 throughout the 10-week period that will end on Thursday, May 5.

Donations for the fundraiser are accepted on DeGuire’s official fundraising page, which can be found on the Man and Woman of the Year website. Students also brought in change through March 1 to put in their classroom’s pennies for pasta boxes.

The fundraiser will also include a bake sale during Parent Teacher Conferences. All funds collected will be donated to the LLS.

The charity campaign began after DeGuire was nominated as one of five students in the St. Louis region as contender for the Student of the Year title.

Nominees for the charity compete to raise as much as money as they can.

“Students have 10 weeks to raise money starting Feb. 25 until May 5 where each dollar counts as one vote,” Sweeney said.

The student who holds the most votes will be named the LLS Student of the Year and will receive a scholarship. The award will be presented at The Chase Park Plaza Hotel on May 5.

DeGuire was nominated by Sweeney to participate after volunteering at LLS for two years.

“Megan Sweeney, the volunteer coordinator, reached out to me and nominated me after I had done some volunteer work,” DeGuire said. “I had approached her myself and told her I was a high school student. I was going to ask her to come in to one of my classes and talk about leukemia.”

DeGuire said that volunteer work is very important and enjoyable since he is able to help many people at one time and is also able to supplement his career path to become a future nurse anesthetist.

Principal Dr. Greg Mathison worked with DeGuire to help make the school-wide fundraiser successful.

“After hearing that Adam was nominated, I was excited for him, and the school, for having a student nominated for the Student of the Year award through the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society,” Dr. Mathison said. “The next step was to decide what we could do to help Adam with raising money for a great foundation.”

DeGuire’s fundraiser was integrated with Pasta for Pennies, a fundraiser sponsored through Community Service, a class taught by Alex Nelle, social studies teacher, in order to increase funds.

DeGuire is the first student from MHS to be nominated for the Student of the Year award; and any future fundraisers will be supported, given that the fundraiser is on behalf of a club or organization, Dr. Mathison said.

“My job as a principal is to support our kids and their achievements,” Dr. Mathison said. “If someone wants to do something like this and support the community, I will do what I can to help them.”