Recently I read an article in the paper about Rachel’s Challenge. This has brought lasting pride and memories to our family.

When White River School District accepted Rachel’s Challenge four years ago when my oldest daughter was a student there, little did I know it would grow and spread into my daughters’ character and values. Roan McQuillen, now 19 and a sophomore at Oregon State University, was one of the first students at WRHS to join the program and get excited about it. All grown up and off to college, Roan demonstrated kindness towards OSU students on campus last year by helping a blind man find his class and plunged in a frozen river for cancer patients, raised thousands of dollars for charities and volunteers in larger ways as a member in the Sigma Kappa Sorority house or at OSU events to help the underprivileged and spread kindness in ways I never knew imaginable.

This week Roan is at OSU volunteering to show freshmen around campus and helping them settle in. Making friends and spreading kindness along the way.

Words cannot express the joy this parent finds in what the program taught my children. Now in 2011, my youngest daughter a sophomore at WRHS is moving into the Rachel’s Challenge as well. It’s come natural for her to join and I hope she takes away the character building and value driven emphasis the program instills.

If Rachel’s parents have seen or read what this program has done to hundreds of families, I’m sure they have found peace. I have experienced pride!

Thank you Rachel and thank you WRSD for offering the program to teenagers.

Christy McQuillen