Photo courtesy of Emery High yearbook staff
By Julie Johansen
On Tuesday morning at an assembly at Emery High School, students, faculty, staff and administration observed 90 seconds of silence to honor a fellow classmate Travis Swope who was killed in a tragic accident over the weekend. Many of the students chose to wear camouflage to honor Swope.
The Emery High senior died following injuries sustained in a vehicle rollover on Saturday in Ferron. Swope was known for playing pranks and making people laugh, and he was anticipating graduation in May.
Counseling protocol had been established at the local high school and students struggling with the event have been encouraged to seek assistance.
Also at the assembly, student body officer Hannah Morris explained the efforts of the student body in fundraisers for the Swope family, planned for when they return to school following the holiday break.
Starting Jan. 2, the student council will be placing pairs of money jars around the school. The jars will be labeled to represent a competition between two teachers, two students or a teacher and a student. For example, there will be a set of jars labeled “Mr. White” and “Mr. Winget.” In this competition, whichever teacher raises the least amount of money will need to wear a rival college shirt to school for an entire day. If Mr. Winget loses, he will have to wear a Brigham Young University shirt and if Mr. White loses, he will be sporting a University of Utah shirt. Similar competitions will take place throughout the school and will end on Friday, Jan. 4.
In addition to the fill-the-jar fundraisers, the cheerleaders will hold a fill-the-bucket fundraiser at the Carbon versus Emery game on Saturday, Jan. 5. In a show of solidarity, Carbon High will be hosting its own fundraiser and encouraging the community to help fill the bucket at the game. After the game, the student council will host a Carbon and Emery dance in the old gym. The cost of the dance will be $3 and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Swope family in their time of need.
At the conclusion of the assembly, many of the student body assembled at the school’s spirit rock, which had been painted in memory of Swope.
Services for Swope will take place on Saturday, Dec. 22 at 11 a.m. at the Ferron Stake Center (515 South 400 West). Friends may call at Fausett Mortuary of Castle Dale (720 North Center) on Friday, Dec. 21 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. prior to services at the stake center. Interment will be in the Orangeville City Cemetery.