An interesting article appeared in the Topeka Daily Capital on Sunday, January 31. 100 brave people jumped into Lake Shawnee. This was the sixth annual Polar Plunge that supports the Special Olympics. This is of special interest because Washburn Rural High School had 14 participants from their Circle of Friends Club. The club, co-sponsored by teachers Kak Eli-Schneider and Rose Rodriguez , is a peer mentoring group. The club connects students with special needs with peers to increase their social activities.

This is the second plunge for Ty Eli-Schneider, a Washburn Rural junior. Ty said, "It's really fun to come out here and jump with my buddies, like Justin,who I mentor at school. I've had a real passion for giving back to people with special needs who are less fortunate than me. It helps me mature a lot, and it keeps me humbled."

There are about 10 Polar Plunges that take place in Kansas which together raises about $250,000. Read more.