St. Mary’s College holds Homecoming fundraiser for Algoma District Cancer Program

St. Mary’s College Student Council members led the Sault high school’s student body through a day of fun activities and fundraising for a good cause Friday.

Beginning Tuesday and wrapping up Friday, SMC Student Council held a Homecoming Week for school alumni while raising funds for the Algoma District Cancer Program.

“We as a student council made it a goal this year to raise as much money as possible for the Algoma District Cancer Program. With Homecoming we decided it would be a great way to bring our school together as a community while raising money for a good cause,” said Keira Berlingieri, SMC Student Council president in a conversation with SooToday.

“Homecoming is hopefully the start of many things we on Student Council can do this year to give back to the community,” said Kenzie Garson, SMC Student Council member and Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board student trustee.

The Homecoming cancer fundraiser is timely as October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

This week marked the second annual SMC Homecoming.

After a pep rally in the school’s gym Friday afternoon, Little Caesars Pizza and BeaverTails Sault Ste. Marie donated food to be sold to students and staff to raise funds for the Algoma District Cancer Program.

Student Council also arranged for a parent to donate thunder sticks - long, narrow plastic balloons that make noise when two are struck together, usually at sporting events - as well as ribbons and temporary tattoos for sale to raise money for the program.

Cash donations were welcome throughout the week and Friday also marked an SMC Homecoming 2024 Pink Out in which students could dress down and wear pink for donations of two dollars.

A car rally was also planned to transport students to Friday evening’s high school senior football game between the St. Mary’s Knights and White Pines Wolverines.

Lunchtime activities SMC student council held throughout the week included a balloon game, an obstacle course and the naming of a Homecoming king and queen.

The number of dollars raised throughout the week will be counted after Homecoming finishes and given to the Algoma District Cancer Program.

“Student Council decided to embrace the idea of a Homecoming at this time of year, at Thanksgiving, because a lot of our alumni make their way home to the Sault to celebrate with family and friends. It’s nice to have an event where they can come back to their school and donate to a good cause. Everybody loves a good football game on a Friday night in October so we’ve incorporated all that into our theme and make it an event where we can raise money and celebrate all our traditions here at school,” said Shannon Sarlo, SMC English teacher and one of five SMC Student Council teacher/advisers.

“Student Council has been working on Homecoming since last year when they were first elected. We meet once a week and they put their proposals forward. They’re really committed to doing good things not only within our St. Mary’s College community but the community of Sault Ste. Marie as a whole. The fact that they have that leadership and dedication to the Sault is something I find really admirable,” Sarlo said.       

Homecoming invitations were sent out to SMC alumni of all ages, from recent grads to those who graduated in 1961.

While SMC’s Homecoming is only in its second year, the school is not new to raising money for cancer programs and research.

SMC students, staff and cancer survivors held the school’s second annual Relay for Life at the high school’s track in May.

SMC student council, with the support of teachers, organized and held the high school’s first Relay for Life at the school’s track with a goal of raising $20,000 in June, 2023. Thanks to donations from students, teachers and staff, the broader community and local businesses, they quickly surpassed their goal and raised $35,000 to present to the Canadian Cancer Society.