Kihei Elementary Student Council Early Act members — from left, fourth-graders Maya Connolly and Aubrey Ramos, and fifth-graders Aliyah Ramones and Maileka Auld-Rodrigues — display the total amount collected in the “Pennies for Polio” school-wide drive.

KIHEI – The Kihei Elementary School Student Council Early Act group consisting of 18 representatives from the third, fourth and fifth grade classes recently celebrated the success of their “Pennies for Polio” community service project.

Sponsored by the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset, this group held the third annual “Pennies for Polio” Drive. Led by staff members Joanne Laird, Alaina Valite and Michelle Bonilla, the students were introduced to Rotary International’s “End Polio Now Campaign.”

Council members made 60 posters for all classrooms and provided collection jars. The collection period was for ten days in February, and $2,178 was collected in this school-wide effort.

MJ Manglicmot’s first grade class and Rachel McClain’s fourth grade class were the top classes. They received a Jamba Juice/Healthy Snack party from the Rotary Club of Lahaina Sunset.

Special thanks to American Savings Bank’s Kahului Branch, which counted and recorded all of the coins and currency collected by the 36 classes. The Student Council will keep 25 percent of the collected funds for future projects, and the remaining funds will be sent to Rotary International’s “End Polio Now” campaign and be matched 2-1 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The council members were surprised to learn that Polio is a disease that killed and crippled so many children in the 20th century. Upon learning about this effort, all council members were eager to take part in the project to help Rotary end this disease in the world. According to Student Council Adviser Laird, “The students embraced this project and experienced first-hand the meaning of the Rotary International motto of ‘Service Above Self.’ “