OGDEN -- Students in the Colors of Success program want doctors and nurses in the community to have a little warmth and comfort in their lives, so they're making them a blanket.
The students, all from Gramercy and Heritage elementary schools as well as Ogden and Ben Lomond high schools, have been working on the fleece blankets for months and will deliver them to Ogden Regional Medical Center this month.
"We are doing this because of what doctors and nurses do for us every day," said Aigha Martinez. "We want to repay them. For me, they saved my brother's life when he was in the hospital and I want to say thank you by giving them a blanket."
For several months, students have gathered at Gramercy Elementary School to make the blankets. So far, they've made nearly 400.
"They are fantastic kids," said Gramercy Elementary School teacher Jaime Stonehocker. "They want to do great things in the community. They want to succeed."
Colors of Success is a school based program through the Ogden School District aimed to help at-risk youth build healthy futures. High school students are involved in the Latino Mentoring program and serve as role models to the younger students. In order to participate in the project, Stonehocker said students had to meet a certain grade point average. Out of 42 students, 38 of them raised their GPA to a B.
"We've been spending a lot of time with the kids, helping them make blankets and just talking with them," said Ogden High School senior Frenshy Ruiz. "We get to know them and they see how we are living our lives and they want to be like us. They also teach us a lot, so it's a win-win situation."
Students from Ogden and Ben Lomond even exercised some healthy rivalry while making the blankets.
"We've been trying to see who can make more blankets," said Nora Muniz, a student at Ben Lomond High School. "So far the younger kids are making them faster than we are, but it's been fun to compete with Ogden. It's good because we're making a lot of blankets."
Eileen Nicholas, a teacher specialist for the Ogden School District, said she's amazed at what the students in the program have accomplished.
"We're trying to show them how to give back to their community and they are just amazing," she said. "They want to do this. Their parents want them to do this and they have risen to the challenge. We are really proud of them. Last year they made Hope Totes and next they will be making blankets for those injured in the military. It's an ongoing service."
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