Students think about life and helping others

Rather than grumbling about face masks or grousing about politics, many of Wrangell’s students are working to improve the school, the community and the world.

They are thinking about their life in the future and the life of others today.

Good for them, and good for everyone.

The high school students in BASE — Building a Supportive Environment — are working to help feed other students, recognize staff for their good work, support students who are having trouble, and even contribute to a microloan program that helps people in need around the world.

And that’s all before lunch.

“We sell food in the morning because there’s a good amount of kids who come to school hungry,” junior Kiara Harrison explained of the breakfast store that serves middle and high school students.

“Prior to that, there was no school breakfast program,” said counselor Addy Esco.

Combining the money from selling food with grant funds and donations, BASE is able to honor a teacher of the month and distribute gift cards to students who do more than is expected of them.

The students also are learning the skills — and rewards — of grant writing. First Bank last month awarded a $3,000 grant to BASE.

As they build their efforts in the schools, the dozen or so students also are looking to make the world better beyond Wrangell Island — far beyond. BASE is contributing to Kiva, an international nonprofit that makes microloans to people in developing nations, such as loans for students to pay tuition, women to start businesses and farmers to invest in needed equipment.

“It could be for a store they’re running or education or health,” said freshman Addy Andrews. “Then, over time, we’d get that money back.”

Junior Will Ashton wasn’t part of BASE last year but joined up when he saw what the students were doing at the school. “I wanted to help,” he said. “The very thing of service is that it generally uplifts you,” Ashton said.

BASE is not the only high school group that deserves praise. The T3 Alliance (Teaching Through Technology), also known as Tech Club, is learning while helping the community.

Working with drones, the students have created videos for the Wrangell Medical Center and flown a tour up the Stikine River for a sightseeing company to use.

Tech Club students also used drones to spot waterfront junk for a marine debris cleanup effort in partnership with the Wrangell Cooperative Association. And then they used their feet, arms and hands to go out and clean up the trash.

The club is now up to about 15 participants.

“We’re trying to make those connections so we can start doing projects that make a difference and impact the place we live,” said Heather Howe, high school science teacher and Tech Club adviser. “That’s the ultimate goal.”

It’s an impressive goal.

—Wrangell Sentinel