Middle Schoolers complete a Marathon of Achievement

Southampton Middle School Awards Medals to 18 who Completed a Marathon of Achievement;
Ceremony Marks the Marathon’s 10th Anniversary

Of all of the students on Team 7D this year, this small group was special. They had the perseverance to beat the challenge of a most unusual marathon, a marathon not of physical effort, but one that tested character and dedication. And on May 30, 2012, those 18 students from Southampton Middle School Team 7D were honored at a banquet sponsored by HAR-CO Federal Credit Union for
completing the 2012 Marathon of Achievement.

The Marathon of Achievement, or MOA, is a way for the students to excel outside of their regular studies. Created a decade ago by Southampton Team 7D teachers, the goal
is to challenge students with academic, cultural and character building exercises that offer each of them a chance to be a winner. Students are given a list of 30 possible activities; they must choose and complete 26 in six months in addition to their regular studies and activities.

MOA is open to all Team 7D students but it’s not an easy task. Students, their families and the Team 7D teachers all must take a great deal of time and effort to cross the
finish line.

“We’re delighted that our students finished the Marathon, and that they finished it with style,” said Bill Carpenter, one of the Team 7D teachers who were the original creators
of MOA. “I had a lot of very high quality reports come in. A number of students finished early and all of them finished on time with very little gnashing of teeth. The students really paced themselves well.”

Students sign up for MOA in October of the school year. Their first task is due in November. By February they must be halfway done – typically half or more students drop out
at this point - and they finish up in May. All of the work must be completed outside the school day’s requirements. Some of the challenges included community service and cultural education events, map memorization, giving up TV
for a full week, or creating a board game including at least 26 language arts facts. Many of the tasks focus on community service and cultural education.

“The community service projects are often the most surprising for the students,” said Erin O’Hara, Team 7D’s special education teacher. “Many students find they like what they do for MOA so much that they continue to volunteer beyond the requirement. It’s a lot of work for everyone, but I love MOA. It’s a great way for me to get to know a larger group of students in a way outside of school.”

As much work as MOA is, it’s an experience that everyone finds valuable. During the past decade Team 7D has seen a number of students trying for their medal because a sibling had done so. This year, there were four legacy finalists. Knowing that a special celebration awaits them at the end helps make the journey a bit easier for some of the students.

“I really wanted to do it to get to the banquet, then because I wanted to be with my friend but in the end, I just wanted to see if I could finish,” said finalist Hayley Blackburn. “I didn’t think it would be as hard as it was. It feels really good to finish, I’m proud of myself.”

Her mother, Kathy Blackburn, agreed. “It’s a great challenge for the students to push themselves and achieve something outside the realm of the usual academics. The hardest part was keeping up the motivation because it really is a lot of tasks.”

The banquet reception is the culmination of the marathon. It has been sponsored by HAR-CO Federal Credit Union since the program’s inception. “The Marathon of Achievement banquet is one of the best parts of our business partnership with Southampton Middle School,” said Diane Moore, Public Relations Specialist with HAR-CO. “We are so glad to be able to honor the students who put in so much work. They truly deserve a special recognition.”

As part of the banquet, the students hear from a special guest speaker each year. For 2012 that speaker was Carlie Colella, Miss Maryland 2011. “I think this is a great event!” she said. “If I had had this opportunity in school I’d definitely have done it. I’m so impressed by what the students have done. I know this will stay with them and help them achieve even more in the future.”

The 2012 Marathon of Achievement Medal Recipients are:

Marcus Antomattei

Hayley Blackburn

Caroline Collins

Michael Cooper

Julia Dillhoff

Sean Eppig

Emily Green

Dylan Knoble

Rachel Koncurat

Jennifer Liszewski

Jordan Nichols

Cameron Outten

Jillian Petee

Chloe Rice

Samantha Schwarz

Deena Silton

Robert Spratt

Lindsey Stevenson

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