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Ripon High puts together chain of thanks
pic chain-of-thanks1
From left, Nashayla Montez, Theresa Martinez, Brianna Isquirdo, Symone Ramirez, Liane Phe, Samantha Conway and Chantyl Vasquez are members of Ripon High’s Future Homemakers of America-Home Economic Related Occupations. On Friday, they displayed the hundreds of “Chain of Thanks” links made possible by FHA-HERO and draped across the school library. - photo by VINCE REMBULAT
RIPON – Students at Ripon High had a chance to express their appreciation of thanks this holiday season.

They jotted down their thoughts on colorful construction paper that were later linked together, thus, forming a chain.

The “Chain of Thanks” project was made possible by the RHS chapter of Future Homemakers of America-Home Economic Related Occupations, and was the brainchild of Chantyl Vasquez.

“I thought it would be a good way to express our thanks at this time of year,” said the president of the leadership program.

Vasquez was just a freshman when she initially came up with “Chain of Thanks.”

According to advisor Diane Wilkerson, participation that first year was limited to a few groups including members of the local FHA-HERO chapter.

The following year, the project was made mainly a competition involving various classrooms.

Now in its third year, “Chain of Thanks” has turned into a campus-wide endeavor.

“We encouraged students to write what they are thankful for on paper links turned into one long paper chain,” Wilkerson said.

It took about a week for members of FHA-HERO to link the strips of paper together.

The chain links of thanks and appreciation can be found in the school library, draping prominently from the ceiling.

“I wrote down that I was thankful for my family,” said Vasquez.

Added Wilkerson, “Most wrote down family or friends. Some wrote something silly.”

FHA-HERO is hoping to see the “Chain of Thanks” continue at RHS, especially with Vasquez and other seniors of the local chapter scheduled to graduate at the end of this school year.

They can turn to the likes of Theresa Martinez and Nashayla Montez, who are both FHA-HERO freshmen, to pass on that tradition.