The Polar Plunge is an annual event that HOSA has been participating in for the past two years. This year, the plunge took place on Saturday, February 27 at Creve Coeur Lake. All participants had to raise a minimum of $75 by the event day in order to take part in jumping into the frigid water. The proceeds of the event went towards Special Olympics Missouri, a year-round program of sports training and competition for people of all ages with intellectual disabilities.

“I like doing the Polar Plunge because they make the fundraising very easy,” club sponsor, Matthew Riffee said. “It’s a fun community event and a charity that we can see the results of since there are students from our school who do Special Olympics.”

The FHN team had a total of 41 members participating. Of those 41, 31 raised the $75 needed to take the plunge. Many students went above and beyond the minimum amount, including junior Bryan Chac, who raised a total of $455. Many club members raised money by e-mailing friends and family asking for donations and by collecting money outside of the Schnucks on Jungermann one weekend. Their efforts paid off, as they raised a total of $5,633, which was the most money out of all of the schools participating.

“The main reason why I did the Plunge was because it was for a good cause,” Junior club member, Michael Shine said. “It was an awesome day other than the fact that it was really cold.”

On the day of the event, HOSA members arrived at Creve Coeur at 10:30 a.m. and hung out together in the sun until it was time for their plunge. Every team got to pick their own costume theme, and there was a competition for the best theme. HOSA won the golden plunger award for 1st place best costume with their theme of Disney princesses.

“I kind of cheated by wearing a shirt that said princess, but the whole team dressed up,” Shine said. “There was Belle, Elsa and pretty much all of the princesses. Everyone had a lot of fun with it.”