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Students Take On ‘Heroes Challenge’ to Support Local Veterans 2025

Students Take On ‘Heroes Challenge’ to Support Local Veterans 2025

For the fifth consecutive year Memorial Park Elementary School (MPS) hosted a celebration of veterans. This year’s theme was MPS Heroes Challenge: Boot Camp for the Brave. Students, faculty, staff, members of the local legions, veterans from the area and Waterville Residential Care all participated in the school wide event that took place on Nov. 10.

The event combined physical activity with meaningful tributes to honor veterans. Students were able to participate in a boot camp challenge led by Fit Body Boot Camp Clinton Coach, Lisa Briggs. MPS also showcased the “MPS Wall of Heroes” where students and staff members fill out a special form to spotlight a friend or family member that has served or is currently serving. The wall grows every year as more stories of service are shared. 

“It was an honor to celebrate our local veterans at MPS,” said Superintendent of Schools Zachary Abbe. “MPS was built in 1960 in memory of members of the Waterville Central School District who served during World War II and the Korean Conflict, and that legacy continues today. The district is proud to recognize and thank all service members for their dedication and sacrifice. The event served as a powerful reminder of our school community’s appreciation for those who have served.” 

Leading up to the event, students collected spare change to donate to our local veterans and Feed Our Vets, an organization based in Utica that offers free food distribution to veterans and their families.   

“The Positivity Project planning team started this wonderful tradition in 2021 because we wanted to instill the true meaning of Veterans Day to our young students,” said Jody Thomas, special education teacher and Waterville’s Positivity Project ambassador. “We didn’t want it to be just a day they read about. We wanted it to be hands-on, engaging and meaningful.”  

The school has a tradition of celebrating Veterans Day with events that have been well attended. In 2021, students and teachers connected with Team Red, White & Blue (Team RWB) and had their own “Old Glory Relay” in the gym that was modeled after their national Old Glory Relay. Students raised money leading up to the event to donate to Team RWB. 

In 2022, the school partnered with Wounded Warriors and did a “Carry Forward” event based on their national event. The school partnered with Clear Path for Veterans in both 2023 and 2024. In 2023, students participated in a “Ride and Run” inspired by the organization’s local race. In 2024, the students and teachers took on an obstacle course as part of the continued collaboration.

The image shows a display of various patriotic-themed food items, including a large American flag made of decorative materials, as well as trays of what appear to be sandwiches or pastries wrapped in individual packaging.
A smiling young woman in military uniform is seated in a room with chairs and tables in the background.
The image shows a memorial wall honoring veterans, with two photographs of a veteran named Thomas H. Gleason and details about his military service.
A group of people sitting on a stage, with a patriotic flag displayed in the background, and a crowd of people in the foreground.
A large crowd of people, both seated and standing, gathered in a gymnasium-like setting with various flags and banners displayed on the walls.
Four individuals, dressed in casual attire, are standing together in what appears to be a hallway or corridor. The background suggests a professional or institutional setting, with a door and other architectural features visible.
A large group of people, both adults and children, are seated in a gymnasium with yellow walls and a hardwood floor.
A group of people, including adults and children, are gathered in a gymnasium-like setting, with a %22Home of the Waterville Eagles%22 sign visible in the background.
A group of young children, some wearing cheerleading uniforms, gathered around a coach in a brightly colored gymnasium.
A group of young children, both boys and girls, are seated on the floor of what appears to be a classroom or community center, with a yellow wall and other furnishings visible in the background.
A crowded gymnasium filled with people, including a group of performers on a stage in the foreground.
The image shows three elderly men sitting at a table in what appears to be a community center or support facility, with patriotic decorations and signs on the walls behind them.
A group of diverse children, both boys and girls, gathered together in a colorful gymnasium setting with decorative flags hanging on the walls.
A large group of people, mostly children, gathered in a gymnasium with yellow and white walls, some standing and others sitting on the floor.
A smiling woman in a colorful floral top stands in the foreground, surrounded by a crowd of children in the background.
A group of people, mostly young adults, are gathered together with their arms raised in a celebratory or enthusiastic manner, against a bright yellow wall backdrop.
A group of young people, mostly children, gathered together in a brightly colored indoor setting, with a person wearing a %22Coach%22 shirt standing among them.
A group of people, some in military or law enforcement uniforms, are seated in a gymnasium-like setting with yellow walls in the background.
A large group of people, mostly young students, are gathered in a gymnasium-like setting, with their hands raised in the air, seemingly engaged in some kind of activity or event.
A large crowd of people, mostly children, gathered in a gymnasium with a basketball court and banners on the walls.
A large group of people, mostly children, gathered in a gymnasium with basketball hoops and other sports equipment visible in the background.
A group of elderly individuals, some in military uniforms, sitting in chairs against a bright yellow background.