College students partner with American Cancer Society

Students in the Professional Sales class at Central Lakes College, Brainerd, recently raised money for the American Cancer Society through a learning experience with the Daffodil Days campaign.

Instructor Pat Swarthout said the students were responsible for two activities.

In the first activity, students learned the art of prospecting by visiting Brainerd-Baxter area businesses and leaving information about how businesses and employees could participate in Daffodil Days.

"The goal was to gain new businesses who had not participated in the past," Swarthout said. "The prospecting experience was an overwhelming success."

Twenty-two new businesses and their employees participated this year by purchasing $1,495 worth of assorted daffodil products. This figure represented 19 percent of the $7,890 in total presales for the area.

The second activity was voluntary. Students planned and carried out a local fundraiser at Central Lakes College by selling Daffodil Grams for $1 each. For every $25 in Daffodil Grams that were sold, a collector bear will be given to children diagnosed with cancer in Crow Wing County.

The students were able to raise $525. In addition, Central Lakes College employees purchased $430 of assorted daffodil products. The total of $955 broke the previous record of $800 set last year.

Sue Tiegs, area American Cancer Society community relations coordinator, and Brenda Beard, Northern Minnesota American Cancer Society manager, visited the students' classroom to thank them for this unique partnership.

Student Jennifer Tourville, Crosby, described her experience as "very uplifting, emotional, and rewarding, just to know the impact of the outcome that touches people's hearts."

Student Jerry Gravening, Brainerd, said "I really enjoyed the teamwork and inspiration. What started out as a class project grew into a class passion."

"When we started this project I think we all thought it was going to be another assignment," said student Travis Chaput, Aitkin. "But as the project grew, we all found a deeper connection to the cause as both individuals and a class."