The Endeavor staff held a penny war. Each of four buckets had a corresponding principal or administrative member of our staff. The bucket with the most change in it booked the staff member a trip to Paris Island for Marine boot camp. Originally Mr. Willie Foster won and was going to go but it was his birthday! Ms. Tracy Burke who attended with Mr. Mason said, “It was something I really wanted to do, then it was a penny war, and everyone wanted to see the principal go, I get that, but it just didn’t work with him , it was his birthday week and he is a building principal so it is a little bit harder for him to get away.”

Burke and Mason both said that they had a great time and enjoyed the experience. The also agreed on what their favorite activity was, they got to shoot a real M16 assault rifle, which is the standard rifle for Marines. While they were there, they were put through as close to a real boot camp as possible. But that was only one of the exciting things they witnessed with other teachers from the Louisville and Cleveland areas. The got to see a real fighter jet at the airbase they toured. The General was also there, and he did a briefing with the teachers the first day of the boot camp. Burke said this about the general “He took a selfie with me so that was cool, he is very down to Earth.”

This was an exciting trip for both Mason and Burke. During high school, they both were considering going to the military. Burke thought about going to the air force, then changed her mind about going,and thought about being an officer, but abandoned the idea. Mason said when asked if he thought about joining the armed forces, “Yes I did, I don’t know if i would have gone in the marines or not, but it was impressive. They had us sit through the Graduation ceremony, and it was unbelievable.”

Mr. Foster, who was originally going to go to the boot camp had a birthday during the time he would be gone, and could not get away from work those days either.Foster did not have any plans on the military, but he did consider the police academy. “My dad is a retired State Policeman, so truly, that was my struggle, i always considered the police academy, but I wanted to coach and teach.”

Foster said, “It’s a great experience, and i think, by in large, the reason why the Marine Core hosts those events, is that the people who are associated with those events, go back to their school and they talk to students and give them real experience of what goes on.”

It is a way for the Core to reach out to students, especially those who don’t know what to do after high school. It puts the teachers through a part of the boot camp so they can recruit students for them.

Overall this fundraiser was a success. The two staff members who went had an amazing time and made many exciting memories. Foster also plans on attending the boot camp since he couldn’t go this time. He said, “ They do them periodically in the summer, and that’s what i hope to get involved in.”