The Willow Glen Resident Photograph by Skye Dunlap New Bike: Bill Hyland of Hyland Family Bicycles helps Schallenberger student Preston Arnett, 10, select a new bicycle with his dad, Randy. Fifth-grader earns top prize for the fourth year in a row Student has earned two bikes, boom box and gift certificate By Cecily Barnes Seated on a bench just feet from his first-period class at Schallenberger Elementary School, 10-year-old Preston Arnett stares nervously at the playground. He wears a green polo shirt, belted khaki pants and his child-sized glasses. Today is Preston's first-ever interview with a reporter, and he's feeling a little shy. With his small hands folded between his knees, Preston softly explains how, for the fourth year in a row, he has raked in over $300 for his school walk-a-thon. Each year, the high cash count has earned Preston the honor of being a top-four fundraiser for the entire school. The junior businessman humbly responds that it was really nothing, just some time on the phone and a little help from dad. "My dad would take it [the pledge sheet] to work," Preston explains, "and I'd be at home calling relatives--cousins, grandmothers." Preston also hit up his neighbors for donations, usually taking his mom with him during solicitations. Even though Preston planned to "let somebody else win this year" the money just seemed to add up. Preston describes the awards ceremony, where he was unexpectedly called up to the stage more than once. "My best friend thought I got more exercise that one day than the whole year," Preston joked. "I'd come up and then I'd get to sit back down, and then they'd call me up again." For his efforts and fundraising talents, Preston was awarded a royal blue BMX stingray motocross bike, partially donated by Highland Bikes on Meridian. Three years ago, in second grade, Preston won a mountain bike also from Highland for raising the most money in the school. Now he has two. Schallenberger's walk-a-thon raised a total of $32,000 for the school, said Bryn Graziano, one of the walk-a-thon chairpersons. Aside from Preston, three other students won prizes for breaking records in the amount of money raised. Third-grader Lauren Freitas raised $370, the most in the school. Preston came in second with $350, followed by first-grader Kayla Costello at $344 and fourth-grader Stephany Powley with $313. The money pays for field trips, assemblies, and Schallenberger's art program, Art Vista. "It's our major fundraiser for the year," Graziano says. "Our main prizes are a bike, $100 cash, a CD boom box and a $100 gift certificate to Toys R Us." Fortunately Preston will be graduating this year, because he's won every one of the prizes. [ Back to Contents Page | Willow Glen Resident Home Page | Archives ] This article appeared in the Willow Glen Resident, November 18, 1998. ©1998 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.