Everybody wins at Santa Maria-Bonita School District’s 15th annual bowl-a-thon
Groups of middle-schoolers stood in clusters around ball returns at Rancho Bowl in Santa Maria on Oct. 28 at the 15th annual Dick Wicks’ Memorial Strike a Partnership Bowl-A-Thon, waiting for their turn to knock down some pins.
After each student bowled, people offered congratulatory cheers and smiles, regardless of which team the bowler was on or how many points were racked up.
A feeling of excitement and camaraderie filled the bowling alley from 9 a.m. until noon as students from the Santa Maria-Bonita School District’s special education program and their volunteer “coaches” bowled to raise money for field trips and other life-skills building opportunities.
During these outings into the community—visiting the grocery store and restaurants, or riding the bus—the students practice their social and life skills, as well as improve their independence.
Last year the bowl-a-thon raised $6,500 for the students’ community education program, according to a press release from the school district.
The bowl-a-thon is named in memory of Dick Wicks, the district’s former coordinator of special education, who passed away in 1996.
This article appears in Nov 5-12, 2009.