Flat Rock senior Keith Guyot, president of Sigma Tau Delta, an International English Honor Society on campus, helps complete a student transaction during their annual book sale Thursday afternoon in front of the Down Under Food Court in the Bovee University Center. "Most of the books were donated from the English department, as well as family and friends," Guyot said. "We have all sorts of textbooks, memoirs and a bunch of old western novels my uncle donated." (Victoria Zegler/Staff Photographer)

“It grew from just one bag of books to this, which is very exciting,” said President of Sigma Tau Delta and Flatrock senior Keith Guyot.

Members of Sigma Tau Delta sat behind a table with stacks of books gathered around them in the lower level of the Bovee University Center as students stopped by to search through the piles, with books priced as low as $1.

“I don’t think paper books will ever be fully replaced,” Guyot said. “There is just something about the smell of old books and holding the book in your hand; seeing the progress that you have made.”

Guyot and other board members of Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society, put together this fundraiser to help raise money for their annual English Conference.

“It’s super cheap and people love books,” Guyot said.

He said they started with a small tub of books in the English office and it began to grow over weeks into more than 1,500 books.

“I thought it was an awesome idea, and I had a co-worker back home who donated over 500 books alone,” said Birdie MacDonald, Vice President of Sigma Tau Delta and Farmington Hills senior. “All of our friends and family donated too, so it was very easy to collect the books.”

Jared Seymour, treasurer of Sigma Tau Delta and Ludington junior, said he did not know what to expect out of the fundraiser, but he wanted to give it a try.

“I was a little uncertain, because we had never done this before, but it sounded like a good idea,” Seymour said. “I am more than surprised to see how much support we have gotten.”

The members of Sigma Tau Delta sold books in front of the Down Under Café in the University Center from Tuesday until Thursday and raised more than $650 dollars.

MacDonald said this fundraiser was a lot of hard work, but it paid off because they have raised enough money to pay for their trip.

“It’s a huge resume-builder, having your stuff read in a professional conference in front of hundreds of theorists, comrades and professors,” MacDonald said.

The Sigma Tau Delta English Conference is one of the most important and anticipated events for the fraternity, Guyot said.

“We are presenting research, panels and there are workshops,” Guyot said. “My favorite part is seeing the outlook of others from around the world.”

Guyot said the conference will be held in New Orleans from Feb. 29 to March 3.

“It’s a great learning opportunity and everyone has unique perspectives,” Seymour said. “We are all nerds here, and we are just going to geek out.”

Guyot said the conference is a better learning experience than a classroom.

“It is such a momentous event and it is amazing to see what you learn in (that) short amount of days,” Guyot said. “People learn more than they do in classes, and it comes back to the community here.”

The proceeds will benefit the photo club, helping to pay for chemicals used in photo development.

“We’re using our images to make the cards,” said David Fairchild, photography club member and Fairfield senior.

The holiday seasonal cards will be available for $2 a piece.

The photography club will also be selling holiday card portraits as a fundraiser for their club as well to be held Saturday in Wightman Hall.

Families or groups of friends can go get their picture taken and it will be printed onto a card. Cards can be purchased in blocks of 10 or 20, and prices will vary depending on the package.

“It will be a fun afternoon, getting into the holiday spirit,” said Taryn Wattles, photography club secretary and Troy senior.

Anyone is welcome to come get their picture taken, she said, from families to groups of friends in silly sweaters.

The cards will then get printed and delivered to the groups for a great price, Wattles said.

Spencer Harrison, club president and Macomb sophomore, said he hopes the two fundraisers will be good publicity for the club and get the word out on campus.

“We’re just trying to get our name out there,” he said.

The photo club is supervised by Missa Coffman, assistant professor of art and design.

Students in physical education and sport instructor Scott Hirko’s PES 550: Sport Fundraising class are hosting Shooting for Success.

The basketball tournament will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Student Activity Center.

The goal of the fundraiser is to fund the Sport Management Association’s second Professional Development Conference, which Nathan Kopp described as being “aimed at students who wish to have a career in sports.”

Kopp is the assistant director at the Center for Global Sport Leadership at Central Michigan University.

“There are no other events like the Professional Development Conference at CMU,” Kopp said. “Many other premiere sports management programs across the country host similar events. The conference was something I created last year because I felt like there was a need and it would advance our program tremendously.”

Oxford senior Nicole Laidlaw, one of the PES 550 students, said the conference is a way for students to learn from professionals in the industry and network with them.

The sales pitch created by the students, provided by Hirko, states supporting the fundraiser “will help with the conference by also welcoming guests from the sports industry to share their knowledge and experiences.”

As for the fundraiser itself, the tournament consists of all-male and all-female teams. These teams are separated by divisions based on age groups. The age groups are middle school, high school, college students and community members.

The games will be double elimination, and there will also be raffles to win great prizes.

Registration for the event is currently open. Check-in begins at 8:45 a.m. and the games begin at 10 a.m.

A student group will host the scavenger hunt starting at 5:30 p.m. at Finch Fieldhouse.

The event is part of a class project for RPL 430: Planning Recreation Programs and Events. In the class, five students are put together at random and must create an event from scratch.

Tim Otteman, assistant professor of recreation, parks and leisure services and instructor for the class, said this project is the crux of the class.

“Throughout the semester students learn how to plan an event,” Otteman said. “Then they must run the event, make money and donate it to the charity of their choice.”

All proceeds will go to Believe in Miracles, a nonprofit organization founded in 2005 by two fifth-graders from Troy. Its mission is to help Michigan children suffering from threatening medical conditions by buying them a gift of their choice.

Group member and Muskegon junior Allison Wisneski said the charity was picked because a member in their group attended high school with one of the organization’s founders.

“Because of the foundation’s purpose, we really want to get younger kids involved (in the scavenger hunt),” Wisneski said. “We just hope it’s a really good turnout with good weather.”

While Otteman is not directly involved in any of the projects and only evaluates them at the end, he said this group did a good job at tying the event with the charity of their choice.

Wisneski said they hope to get 40 teams or more and raise at least $400.

The entry fee is $12 per two-person team and $14 with pizza. Registration will start at 5:30 at Finch Fieldhouse on Wednesday. Participants can also pre-register for a $10 team fee by emailing WaldoAtCMU@gmail.com

There will be prizes for the first two adult teams and two kid teams to come back with all five clues.

A raffle will also be held at 7:30 p.m. Prizes include a child-size Waldo costume, a CMU Fathead, local restaurant gift cards and more prizes donated by the event’s sponsors.

Between Oct. 28 and 31, Larzelere will evolve into a six-room haunted maze to raise money for Smile Train, an organization focused on providing medical treatment for children with cleft palates in underprivileged nations.

The haunted maze will be open from 7 p.m. to midnight Oct. 28 and 29 and from 7 to 11 p.m. Oct. 30 and 31 in Larzelere Hall Terrace.

“The maze costs $3 per person and all proceeds will go to Smile Train,” said Grand Rapids sophomore Zack Putkovich, social committee chairman for the hall. “We raised about $500 last year and hope to raise even more this year.”

The social, fundraising and community service committees are working together to create the maze that will bring in a large crowd, including people outside of the university.

“The maze is for everyone, families included. We’ll tone down the intensity when kids come through,” said Michael Schmidt, a sophomore from Mason.

The maze is designed in a six-room configuration, giving it a haunted house feel.

“Each room has a different theme and the maze is incorporated throughout the rooms,” Putkovich said.

The committees have a budget of about $300 to host the event.

“It’s not overly elaborate,” Putkovich said. “Don’t expect a full-scale haunted house. We’re here to scare you and that’s genuinely all we want to do.”

Sebastian Andringa, Cedar Springs freshman and fundraising committee chairman, said a lot of time and effort is going to produce the maze.

“This year’s maze is going to scare your pants off,” he said.

Trenton sophomore Dori Castignola signs a giant beach ball after donating to the Children's Miracle Network in front of Anspach Tuesday afternoon. "I was like whoa what is this," said Castignola. "It's for such a good cause so I figured I'd donate and sign it." (Charlotte Bodak/Staff Photographer)

The sisters of Central Michigan University’s Phi Mu chapter have been “having a ball” with their latest philanthropy idea.

The sorority has escorted a massive beach ball around campus, asking students to sign their names on it for a $1 donation. All proceeds will be donated to the Children’s Miracle Network hospitals, and the ball, which stands more than six feet tall, will be given to Pullen Elementary School, 251 S. Brown St., in Mount Pleasant. The group isn’t sure how much money they will raise, but hope the attention will bring people to sign.

“Most of (the students) have been shocked and amazed and have had their cell phones out taking pictures,” said Grand Haven senior Brittany Sheffield. “They’ve never really seen something like this on campus before.”

Sheffield said she got the idea for the giant ball from another Phi Mu chapter in Mississippi that had success with the event. She said when the ball was first blown up and barely fit in the sorority house, they knew students would be intrigued.

The charity, Children’s Miracle Network, has been raising money to provide children with medical treatment since 1983. Phi Mu does not have a set amount of money to raise.

“As for the ball, we’re donating it to a local elementary school right by the hospital,” Sheffield said. “The gym teacher knows (the ball) is coming, so I’m sure she’s going to plan some fun activities for the students.”

Shelby Township senior Kristina Hermann said her sorority was having fun with the ball, and it was first inflated in the Charles V. Park Library parking lot with a hairdryer. Hermann said she was excited to donate both the money and ball to children.

“I think (Children’s Miracle Network) is a really good thing,” Hermann said. “Some parents just can’t afford to take care of their children when they’re sick, so it’s really nice to have one less worry in the house when that happens.”

Rochester sophomore Rachel Boreo saw the giant ball from a distance before deciding to donate $1 to the cause and sign her name.

“The ball definitely got my attention, and I had to come see what was going on,” Boreo said. “It’s definitely a good cause and it looks like it’s working, judging by all the names.”

For more information on Children’s Miracle Network, visit the website.

The 13th annual Into the Light walk Friday at the park, 331 N. Main St., brought more than 1,000 community members together as music played in the background. Participants personalized each luminary with the names of cancer victims and survivors.

Mount Pleasant resident Bill Sowle, a member of Community Cancer Services of Isabella County, said the luminaries sold are a major source of funding.

“It is very heart-rending to see all the people here,” he said. “This affects everyone.”

Shary Gaunt is on the board of CCS and has been active in putting the fundraising event together. She spoke at the event about what it means to be a cancer survivor.

In January 2001, she developed small cell lung cancer, and doctors gave her a 20 percent chance of survival.

“I thought they sent me home to die,” she said. “During the months and weeks of treatment, I kept clinging to that 20 percent and saying to myself, ‘Somebody has to be in that 20 percent, and it might as well be me.’”

In February, Gaunt’s oncologist told her the chances of her cancer recurring are virtually none.

Committee member Zora Walsh has been a breast cancer survivor for 26 years.

“We are a small group of people, but we help a lot of people,” she said.

Into the Light raised $9,000 its first year. Last year, the event raised $35,000.

This year, the foundation has raised more than $20,000 and fundraisers anticipate raising $30,000 as donations continue to come in.

The proceeds from the event are kept directly within the community.

“The money raised is to help members of our community who are battling cancer with transportation costs and other costs that we can help them out with,” Gaunt said. “Not only is it a devastating thing for families, it is very expensive.”

CCS receives substantial support from businesses in the community. The Morey Foundation, Isabella Bank and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe were announced as the top sponsors.

President of CCS Harold Cook said any money given goes directly to cancer patients. The board serves strictly as volunteers, with no reward, except helping others.

“We want to make sure there’s no one in Isabella County who needs treatment but can’t get it,” he said.

The Tails and Trails annual 5K races will begin at Island Park West. There are two separate races during the day: A competitive race beginning at 10 a.m. and a leisurely 5K walk at 2 p.m.

“You can run with or without your animal, and those without an animal can ask for a shelter dog to use for the run,” said Jill Irving, director of the Isabella County Animal Shelter.

HATS requests that any participant wishing to walk with a shelter dog call in advance so enough animals are brought to the event. Dogs are the most common animals to walk with, Irving said.

“I haven’t seen a cat on a leash yet,”  she said.

The registration fee for all participants is a $25 donation to HATS, but larger donations are encouraged. Participants can pay out of pocket or request pledges from friends and family.

“They go directly to the animals,” Irving said about the registration fee.

Chelsea Tenwalde, kennel technician at the Isabella County Animal Shelter, hopes to see most of the donations go to spay and neuter surgeries.

“That’s the reason we’re here,” Tenwalde said. “If we could control the pet population, we wouldn’t need to be here.”

In addition to the race, separate activities like a pet photographer and pet micro-chipping will be at the event.

Summer Dubois, kennel supervisor at the Isabella County Animal Shelter, said micro-chipping is an important tool when animals run away. Small microchips are injected into the animal’s back just underneath the skin. All animal shelters are required by law to scan incoming animals for microchips, so they can contact owners if their pet is turned in.

To keep the microchip activated, owners have to pay an annual fee of less than $20.

However, pet owners can save money by going through HATS.

“Because the micro-chipping is through a shelter affiliation, they get the first year free,” Dubois said.

Registration for the event will take place an hour before each race begins. Participants may pay in advance at the animal shelter or pay on-site.

If you have any questions about the race or volunteering at the animal shelter, contact HATS at 989-775-0830.

Instead, she went for a film festival.

The Broadway Theatre, 216 E. Broadway St., will hold the first Broadway Film Festival on Saturday. The money raised will go toward theatre operations and renovations.

“I just wanted to do a film festival because I’m from Traverse City, and we’re known for our film festivals,” Rickman said. “Coming down to Mount Pleasant, I’ve never seen anything like that here so I thought it would be really fun.”

The winner will have a personalized seat with his or her name on a plaque inside the theater valued at $350.

Clinton Township senior Eric Patterson said he believes the film festival will be unique since no one in the class has attempted to do one before.

The students had to take an event from scratch and raise money for a charity. Afterward, they must make a portfolio showcasing everything they did for the class, Patterson said.

“Most of the time, (students) chose to do things like the ‘Red Cups for Red Cross,’” he said. “The film festival was Alisha’s idea, and we all thought it would be a cool idea.”

The films were required to be in DVD format, up to 15 minutes long and appropriate for the general public. There is a $5 admission fee.

Films have been accepted from CMU students as well as community members. Grosse Ile junior Shane Smolak collected the films for screening.

The event coordinators will review the films before the festival.

The festival runs from 2 to 5 p.m. Each film will have a change jar and the vote will be based on how much change is put into the jars.

“We’re highly encouraging people to bring change because that’s how we’re voting,” Smolak said. “It’s just another way for us to raise money for the charity.”