A total of 1,500 gift cards to Dunkin’ valued at $5 apiece have been distributed to the student body in addition to numerous employee groups at Poplar Bluff High School.

The $7,500 contribution was made possible through a collaboration with High School Nation in an effort to promote the importance of eating breakfast. Chartwells volunteered to participate in the initiative through its Discovery Kitchen program on Monday, Sept. 30, providing samples of homemade waffles with whipped cream, fresh fruit and citrus-infused water.

“This donation was inspired by a compelling statistic released by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) that shows three in four high school students do not eat breakfast daily,” communication arts teacher Jennie Randolph announced. She elaborated: “I think it’s really important showing the idea when we’re not testing—MAP or ACT—that breakfast is important for the learning environment in general.”

Randolph, Student Council co-adviser, learned about High School Nation during the National Conference for Student Council Leaders in June in New Mexico. Having been named the State President School by the Missouri Association of School Councils, PBHS was required to have representation at the National VISION Conference and elected seniors Destiny Jackson, Bailey B. Taylor and Aminah Williams to participate.

The group established a connection with High School Nation during an adjoining vendor fair. While Missouri was reportedly outside the representative's service area, the organization still desired to support PBHS, so officials agreed to ship the gift cards. In lieu of High School Nation hosting an assembly, StuCo made posters and Chartwells displayed fun facts about the importance of a balanced breakfast for brain function and energy levels.

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Cutline: PBHS students visit the Discovery Kitchen booth staffed by Chartwells personnel (left to right) Kitchen Manager Tammy Thomas, Warehouse Manager Austin Robertson and Executive Chef Kevin Merizalde.