Chick-fil-A Leader Academy members help fellow Gateway student in need

Members of Gateway High School’s Chick-fil-A Leader Academy were able to help one of their own classmates last month — a sophomore student who is battling cancer.

With their motto “Impact Through Action,” academy members are partnered with the Monroeville Chick-fil-A and its owner Brian Wenger. They hold monthly leader labs and participate in three service projects every year.

So when the members discovered that 10th grader Dajaun Ripley-Caldwell and his family were in need, they shifted their “Do Good December” project to help their classmate. According to Regan Reeder, cyber special education facilitator and leader academy advisor, Dajaun was diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma, a form of cancer. His mother, Stephanie, quit her job so she could be by his side and take him to doctor’s appointments.

Although Dajaun had only been a Gateway student for about a year and a half and some of the students didn’t know him personally, that made no impact on their decision.

“All they knew was that one of their fellow Gators needed help,” stated Dawn Nicolazzo, library media specialist and leader academy advisor.

The group began by fundraising and sold Chick-fil-A cookies at the high school to raise more than $1,000, according to academy member Victor Sandoval, a senior.

Marci Klinger, online cyber director and leader academy advisor, said the organization had also already brought over $2,000 through their Snap! Raise fundraiser, a group-based mobile fundraising platform.

“We used a portion of those funds for our project,” Klinger said, adding that high school faculty also donated to the effort.

Family friend Cathleen Oliver helped to plan a surprise visit for academy members at Dajaun’s home.

Academy members “wrapped presents, prepared a food basket and wrote motivational messages,” said senior Sedem Agbodzie.

When they arrived, “someone knocked on the door, and Cathleen was there. The family was totally surprised,” Sandoval said.

The group gifted Dajaun a new PlayStation 5 to replace his broken one. They also bought him a hat, gloves, chemotherapy shirts and Baltimore Ravens gear — his favorite team. The entire family received presents, gift cards and a monetary donation.

The Chick-fil-A Leader Academy is comprised of three advisors and approximately 30 students. It began in 2017, when Brian Wenger began sponsoring the academy at Gateway. The organization is open to students in grades 10 through 12, requires students to apply and remain in good academic standing. Once a student completes a year in the academy, they cannot apply again but are considered an alum.

Agbodzie is not only the president of the organization, but she also is a Chick-fil-A employee.

“They really care about and focus on how to train their employees. It’s really the best of both worlds,” said Sedem, who also volunteers at a food pantry. “There is an emphasis on character development and community service.”

She plans to go to college for journalism.

Sandoval plans to attend Pitt or Penn State and study computer science. He enjoys the academy not only for the opportunities it offers, but its message.

“It’s not about me, it’s about helping others,” he said.