The competition between the two schools started at the New Carlisle Rotary meeting.
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“We are in the process of attempting to gather 5,000 cases of bottled water,” Tecumseh Assistant Superintendent Paula Crew said. “I challenged Mr. Jesse Steiner from Northwestern to help us out and he indicated the challenge is on. That’s not what I meant, but we are up to the challenge and are throwing down the gauntlet and we are taking that challenge on.”
“She said maybe another school nearby, not mentioning any names, can also collect water,” said Steiner, the superintendent at Northwestern. “I said, ‘I can tell you this much, Northwestern will collect more cases of water than Tecumseh will.’”
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The donation drive was started by the Tecumseh Junior Optimist Club, which is a club that promotes volunteering and helping in the community. Tecumseh guidance counselor Kristie Talley said the club is filled with kids who want to give back. She said while the ultimate goal is to collect the most water possible, having a rivalry is fun.
“There is no doubt that we will beat Northwestern,” she said.
Tecumseh High School Principal Ivan Gehart said the students in his school are always trying to find a way to help those need.
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“This is nothing new,” he said. “These are great kids that look to help in the community. The fact they wanted to raise water for the victims is not a surprise to me at all but I am proud of what they do on a day-to-day basis.”
While the schools are competing, their communities are also pitching in. German Twp. has donated four skids full of water.
“This community could be in the same situation,” German Twp. Trustee Charles Metzger said. “This community has always been for helping people. I lived here 75 years and they have done so many good things for so many people. It just makes you feel good.”
Both school administrators said they intend on winning the competition while helping victims.
“I am really confident that we will hit the 5,000 case mark,” Steiner said. “We are excited to be able to help people in need.”
The excitement is on at Tecumseh, too, Crew said.
“We are up to the challenge,” she said. “Tecumseh arrows will be victorious and we are extremely ecstatic to send love to Texas.”
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