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Estero senior organizing 'Give a Child a Wish' trip for local pediatric patients

By LIANE SMITH (Contact)

Saturday, January 20, 2007

As Student Council President for the Florida Association of Student Councils, Estero High School senior, Ian Waterhouse, is organizing "Give a Child a Wish."

Waterhouse, 17, is also the Student Council president at Estero High School.

And when he's not busy with that, he's practicing for his lead part in the school's upcoming musical, or writing as editor-in-chief of the school's newspaper. He's also a member of the Renaissance Club, Teen Trendsetters, the National Honor Society, and Lee County's Teen Court Program.

Photo by LIANE SMITH / Banner

Ian Waterhouse, in red, with other Florida delegates at the National Association of Student Councils Conference.

Through "Give a Child a Wish" Waterhouse has challenged public and private middle and high schools throughout Florida to pick a project that gives a child a wish.

Locally, the student council at Estero High School has chosen to take 50 pediatric oncology patients from Lee Memorial Health Hospital to Disney World on March 10.

The all-inclusive trip will ultimately take 150 people to Disney World, including at least one parent per child, student council members, and chaperones.

Highway Coach donated a bus, and discounted two other buses, for the one-day trip, while bus drivers offered their time for free.

So far, the student council has raised a little more than $20,000 for the trip, just about $10,000 shy of what it needs. The largest donation, $10,000, came from a private member of the community, Waterhouse said.

"We're also working to include the Estero High School student body," Waterhouse added.

The student council is working on two projects that encourage the students to donate money for the cause. One project will involve cutting Mickey Mouse ears out of paper in different colors, related to the amount of donation. Once students purchase ears, their names will go on the ears, then up onto a bulletin board. During the holiday season, student council members did similar projects that raised $5,000, just from Estero High School donations.

Photo by LIANE SMITH / Banner

From left: Estero High School Student Council representatives in front of the Liberty Bell at the National Association of Student Councils Conference: Judy Avant, Student Council advisor; Jennifer Diner, Student Council president; Liz Godly, Student Council vice president; and Ian Waterhouse, Student Council president.

Another possible upcoming project involves spirit wells, which students will appropriately decorate in NFL team colors of this year's Super Bowl contenders. All students are then encouraged to throw change in the spirit well of the team they want to win, or think will win. The spirit wells would be placed in the courtyard at Estero High School, closer to the Super Bowl.

"The students here at Estero High School are really good at supporting our projects," Waterhouse said.

"We're a very active student council," Waterhouse added.

The Student Council at Estero High School is a member of student council associations on a district, state, regional and national level.

According to Waterhouse, many student council members discussed their love of Disney World as children and young adults, and wanted to give that same opportunity to sick children in the area.

"This is what we can do for them; we can give them this day," Waterhouse said.

Waterhouse, who has been accepted to Flagler College, plans to study political science and theatrical arts next year, with hopes of first becoming a lawyer after law school, and then a judge.

"Both things are something I love," Waterhouse said. "And to be a lawyer, you need to have acting skills.

Estero High School teacher and Student Council coordinator Judy Avant described Waterhouse as "extremely reliable and organized."

"He's who I depend on to keep me straight and to keep me going," Avant said.

To donate money for the "Give a Child a Wish" project through the Estero High School Student Council, contact Judy Avant at 947-9400 during school hours.