Merced County students making ‘miracles’ happen

“Miracles Do Happen” is the theme for a couple of assemblies scheduled Friday at Atwater High School – where students, staff and the community are combining efforts to make Christmas better for people in need.

This is the second year for the Miracles Do Happen rallies, where people not expecting anything are surprised by the largesse of others.

Assemblies at 10:45 a.m. and 11:30 a.m. will see 152 wishes granted for deserving students. Nathan Braga, Atwater High activities director, said this year’s program exceeded last year’s goals, when more than $10,000 was raised.

“Last year the feedback we got was amazing,” Braga said. “It’s the best I’ve ever felt in 12 years as an educator. We made a lot of kids’ and families’ day.”

The program also takes place at other area high schools this holiday season.

Fifty-four wishes will also be granted at Buhach Colony High School’s Winter Wishes rally at midday Friday. Activities director Katie Koehn said more than 50 students in leadership classes have raised more than $6,000 for deserving individuals.

Merced High School also held a Winter Wishes rally last week, its sixth annual effort. Each student on campus had an opportunity to make a wish in the program, which started in October.

Merced’s Golden Valley High School also will be holding its Annual Wish Rally on Friday.

About 66 students in Atwater High’s leadership program spearheaded the wish rallies, contacting students, their families, teachers and businesses for donations. Braga said additional money came in late, so more wishes could be granted for some of the 1,800 students on campus.

Atwater High Principal Alan Peterson praised the students’ efforts.

“This rally is the most moving and emotional event we put on each year,” Peterson said. “We have a very generous community that supports our school. Mr. Braga and the leadership students put in countless hours to make the students’ dreams come true.”

Dinners and movie tickets will be given out along with all-expense-paid trips to California’s major amusement parks, Braga said. He said all the leadership students have contributed to the rallies in some way, and it’s nice to see them come together for a good cause.

“The feeling, you can’t beat it, man,” Braga said. “We will be feeling good afterward.”

Hannah van Warmerdam, Atwater High student body president, said the miracle rallies are amazing events that show what happens when a group of students puts in a little effort to make it all possible.

“The feeling afterward is indescribable, knowing we’ve done something good,” she said. “It’s definitely one of the biggest events of the year. It takes months of planning, but it’s really worth it.”

Braga said teachers contributed to the effort by participating in an auction, where their services were donated for a day in exchange for contributions.

This story was originally published December 10, 2014 at 6:49 PM with the headline "Merced County students making ‘miracles’ happen."