JEFFERSON TWP — Four youngsters from the South Butler middle and intermediate schools addressed the school board Wednesday night to share their enthusiasm for the district's Laps for Learning program, where students walk or run laps around the track at the high school stadium to raise money for the intermediate school's Parent Teacher Organization.

But it was a certain promise included in this year's event that redoubled the students' efforts.

“I want to make Dr. Moxie into a human sundae,” said Zane Pacek.

Frank Moxie, principal at the intermediate school, explained that he promised the fourth and fifth graders at his school that if they raised at least $23,500 in Laps for Learning, they could cover him in chocolate sauce and whipped cream as a reward.

The amount raised will be revealed in an assembly Tuesday at the school, where Moxie will submit to the sticky process if the benchmark was reached.

Intermediate student Roman Defelice said the students who participated walked 5,842 laps, which is the distance between the district campus and Denver.

Roman's classmate, Rylee Gilmore, said Laps for Learning was well received both in the community and within the district.

She said 49 companies donated cash or prizes for the event.

“And almost every one of our teachers took part in walking laps with us,” Rylee said.

She especially appreciated the disc jockey at the event, who held dance competitions and awarded prizes.

Student Vinnie Defelice said the food sales and raffles at the event brought in $1,025.

Vinnie said students also filled Moxie's pickup truck with food for the primary and intermediate schools' Weekend Food program, in which students who receive free- or reduced-price lunches are given food items to take home for the weekend.

“I ran 43 laps this year and got to see my old teachers,” Vinnie told the board.

Moxie said he appreciates both the adult and student efforts in the 2018 Laps for Learning.

“It was a very successful event,” Moxie told the board. “There was lots of participation.”