Helias Catholic High School students raised an impressive $6,248 during Catholic Schools Week 2024 to support efforts to build a school in the Diocese of Jefferson City’s partner diocese, the Archdiocese of Kampala in Uganda.

Students in Helias Catholic’s senior campus ministry classes organized fundraising efforts with certan dollar amounts earning incentives involving staff volunteers during the week-ending Catholic Schools Week assembly. Because student fundraising far surpassed its $5,000 goal, students enjoyed watching several teachers participate in an “American Ninja Warrior Challegen,” as well as teacher Garrett Wiggins and Chris Wyrick taking a pie in the face, Chip Malmstrom getting a “tank top spray tan,” Nathan Kempf and Collin Mayhan dyeing their hair blue, and Luke Yarnell shaving off his eyebrows. At top dollar, Principal Spencer Allen got a facde with the letters HC shvaed into his hair and Chaplain Fr. Paul Clark shaved his beard — both while eating a ghost pepper.

Other diocesan schools also partnered with the Diocese of Jefferson City’s mission office in fundraising for the school in Uganda.