On Oct. 14, St. Paul Lutheran Church and School in Aurora received a banner of recognition from representatives of the Muscular Dystrophy Association for their fundraising efforts in the 2009 MDA Hop-athon. For the second consecutive year, St. Paul was the national leader in funds raised, collecting $15,043. It is an educational special event for preschool through second grade at day care centers, preschools and elementary schools. The program offers a weeklong disability awareness lesson plan, hands-on activities for the children with books and a video, and other free educational materials.

Logan Mitzel, a St Paul fifth-grader with muscular dystrophy, was the 2008 Goodwill Ambassador for the MDA. Logan and classmates "hopped" live in September during the MDA telethon broadcast on WGN TV channel 9. Logan serves as the manager for the fifth- to eighth-grade boys' soccer team at St Paul and continues to be an inspiration to the school, church and community.

The school at 85 S. Constitution offers programming from preschool through eighth grade and features all-day kindergarten. For information, call (630) 896-3250 or visit stpaulaurora.org.