Business, school alumni give gift to Avinger students
Students of Avinger Independent School District have already had an unusual Christmas. That’s each of the 131 students, grades kindergarten through 12.
Each student received a monogrammed hoodie last week, not only from Santa Claus but also from the AEP Lightning Bug mascot with its four arms and antennae.
The surprise came at a school Christmas program. The students were gathered for classroom singing of such songs as “The 12 Days of Christmas,” when Sara Vestfall, plant manager of the nearby Wilkes Power Plant, rose to tell them about a special gift the power plant personnel had for them this Christmas.
The hoodies were embossed with the Avinger Indian logo, and the students immediately pulled off other warm clothing to put on their sweatshirts and pose for a picture.
Some had to be more than a little surprised, for, unknown to them, the high school students had both designed and printed the more than 130 hoodies with the art department’s new printing machines as directed by Lane Loyd.
The students thought the hoodies were a promotion for the school’s athletics association.
Not one knew of their coming Christmas gift on this day.
Said athletic coach David Schubert with enthusiasm, “This is big … BIG. To have something warm to wear at this cold season and for it to have Avinger school all over its front is powerful for the school, town and the Wilkes Power Station.”
The idea for the hoodie gift had come from Lane Young, a 25-year member of the Avinger school board in cooperation with Wilkes personnel.
“They have a committee out at the plant that wanted to do something for the Avinger students this Christmas, and they called me out to the plant one day to meet with them,” Lane Young said.
“We came up with the hoodie idea, and the the Wilkes people led by four special ladies—Tami Anderson, Carol Campbell, Celeste Monk and Sara Vestfall—just worked hard for several months to raise the money.”
The Avinger school has several alumni who’ve worked at the plant and several also reside in Avinger.
In her remarks, Vestfall said the power plant looked forward to a closer relationship with the school.
Coach Schubert added that the surprise Christmas present succeeded not only for having the warm clothing as a gift but also developing support for the power plant.
“They have a beautiful facility out there, and it’s huge for our school and students that we have their support.”
The Frank M. Wilkes Power plant is named for former SWEPCO president Frank M. Wilkes and is a natural gasfired electric power station commissioned in 1964.