Hair's to Central High

Raising nearly $1,500 for charity is a feat in itself, but getting seven teachers to shave their heads in the process?

Priceless, for sure.

In late March, Burlington Central High School senior Stephanie Catherine was sitting in journalism class when an idea dawned on her.

"I wanted to bring some good press to the school," Catherine said.

More Coverage Slideshow Hair's to Central High

Why not get her fellow students to raise funds for One Step at a Time children's cancer camp with a head shaving competition?

Shortly after, Catherine sprang to action, involving the school's service club and its cosmetology students in her game plan.

For several weeks, five teams -- freshmen, sophomores, juniors, seniors and a teacher team --- competed to get the most spare change donated to collection jars, English teacher and service club coordinator Sue Zagorski said.

Cosmetology students volunteered to do the shaving in front of the entire student body at a May 20 morning assembly, Zagorski said.

One Step at a Time, operated by Chicago-based Children's Oncology Services, Inc., aims to give children ages 7-19 facing cancer a chance to bond with other pediatric cancer patients and survivors in a non-hospital setting. At summer camps, ski camps and dude ranch camps throughout the year, kids learn to challenge themselves in new ways and give each other hope, strength and understanding through shared experiences.

At the morning assembly, service club president Courtney Schejbal announced a total of $900 raised -- with the teacher team raking in $399.51.

As cosmetology students readied their razors to shave the team of six teachers' heads, students came forward with more bills in hand.

Longtime physical education/driver's education teacher Scot Sutherland volunteered to fork over $400 of his own Monday if colleague Deb Twenhafel would shave her head. Working for the last 12 years together in the same departments, a sort of friendly rivalry has developed between the two educators, Sutherland said.

"My mother would just die if she knew I was doing this," Twenhafel said.

For Catherine, the event turned out far better than she could have dreamed.

"This is unbelievable," she laughed. "I never expected everyone to get so into it."