140 students from 10 local high schools to walk in fundraiser Saturday

AURORA, Ill. October 24, 2006 - About 140 students from 10 area high schools and Aurora University will join together in the third annual Phi Delta Kappa International Walk for Education on Saturday, Oct. 28, at Waubonsie Valley High School, 2590 Ogden Ave., Aurora.

The walk is from 9:30 to 11 a.m. around the school’s lake. The rain location is the school gym. Aurora University’s College of Education is the event sponsor.

Teams of students and faculty, including three principals, are from Kaneland, Neuqua Valley, Oswego, Oswego East, Plano, St. Charles East, St. Charles North, Sandwich, Waubonsie Valley, and West Aurora high schools. In addition to walking, about 20 members of Future Educators of Aurora University, a student club for aspiring educators, will assist with arrangements and fundraising.

Registration is from 8:30 to 9 a.m. at the school cafeteria, get-acquainted activities are 9 to 9:30 a.m., the walk is 9:30 to 11 a.m., and closing ceremonies are 11 to 11:30 a.m.

Team and individual certificates will be presented to participants. Refreshments will be provided by the PDK Northern Illinois University chapter.

High-school walkers are members of school Future Educators Association chapters and were asked to raise $100 per person for the event.

Sixty percent of funds raised will go to local FEA chapters and the remaining 40 percent will go to the national organization. Money raised will go toward community service projects and to help offset costs of sending students to the annual national convention. Last year’s walk raised $8,300.

Phi Delta Kappa is a fraternal education organization whose members are in education-related fields. Local chapters affiliated with the organization are the Future Educators of America.

The walk at Waubonsie is among 80 that were scheduled in the U.S., Canada, Italy, and Japan. Most walks were held last week in conjunction with Phi Delta Kappa’s national convention in Washington, D.C.

Pam Ferdinand of Maple Park and Judy Maxwell of Sugar Grove are FEA coordinators for Aurora University’s College of Education, which supports 15 local chapters.

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