Make-a-Wish and Edinboro University grant a Hawaiian excursion

 During a heartfelt halftime show on Feb. 23, McComb Fieldhouse resembled a Hawaiian luau.

At half-time of Edinboro’s men’s basketball game against Clarion, 16-year-old Kendall Peterson, of West Middlesex, received a trip to Hawaii, along with many other gifts during ‘Boro’s sixth annual Make-A-Wish Awareness Day.

After senior hoops forward Trey Staunch escorted Peterson onto the court, two Edinboro University Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) students made the reveal by rappelling down from the ceiling and presenting Peterson with Hawaiian leis. 

Other members from Edinboro athletics provided gifts, including luggage, an iTunes gift card, LOCASH tickets (Edinboro’s spring concert), other travel and trip supplies, candy and Edinboro volleyball merchandise such as a volleyball T-shirt, a game ticket and an ball autographed by the team, as that is her favorite sport. 

Her trip will be from April 18-24 and will include multiple opportunities, such as a hiking tour. 

Funny, kind-hearted, loving, strong and a refusal to let the situation get her down, were just a few ways Kimberly Gilliland, Peterson’s aunt, described her.

“She deserves it,” said Gilliland.

“It’s really nice,” said Peterson, who was diagnosed with cancer at 11 years old.

She is excited about the trip and appreciates everything that she received. 

Make-A-Wish Awareness Day involves an annual event and fundraising, in which $10,281.25 was raised through 2017-2018 donations, making the trip possible. 

Edinboro University ranked fourth in Division II institutions in Make-A-Wish fundraising for a second straight year. Behind this success was the selling of Make-A-Wish stars by the The Edinboro University Student Athlete Committee (SAAC), which can be seen in the McComb hallways.

“It’s really awesome to see someone get their wish,” said Aubrey Pelletier, a SAAC member.

Edinboro has raised over $73,000 for the Make-A-Wish purpose and aim to grant many more wishes to come.

Amber Chisholm | edinboro.spectator@gmail.com

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