Phone-a-thon for scholarships

bperry@liherald.com

On Oct. 26, Oceanside High School students began their Phone-A-Thonhe for the 60th year in a row. Students called Oceanside households for three days, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., asking for donations to the school’s scholarship fund. Student Activities Director Patrick Turk said 50 students were involved this year.

Seniors Bryce Amsterdam and Shelby Fortmeyer have been manning the phones since their freshman year. “The Phone-A-Thon provides need based scholarships that help the senior class of Oceanside afford college,” Amsterdam said, “I was nervous when I began reading a speech. But people really do donate. Some give five dollars or $10, some more, up to $50. It all adds up.”

Fortmeyer said she and the other volunteers gave two hours a day. “This is also community service,” she said, “we get credit both for the time spent. As a Kiwanis Key Club member we get service hours credit. This also goes on our applications for college.” Over the four years they have been taking calls for the program they have spoken to repeat callers. The number of repeat donors surprised both girls.

Turk said there is a three-month vetting process to determine who gets the scholarship funds.