The honors senior students at Dawson-Bryant High School will be traveling to Italy in the spring.

What an awesome opportunity for each of them to experience the world. Each individual traveling has been working very hard to raise funds for the trip.

Our community has rallied around our students, supporting them more than we ever imagined.

My whole life, I have been part Coal-Grovian and part Irontonian.

I have attended both schools and lived both places. I am so proud to be a small part of such fine communities where our students are encouraged and driven to be the best they can be.

In October, we held a 5K run where the following sponsors donated money enabling us to hold a successful event: Food Fair of Coal Grove, Holliday’s Quik Stop, America Lube, Clancy’s, Cooke’s Farm, Buckeye Monument, Carey’s Tires, The Endzone, Pawn Shop Express, Liberty Federal Savings, Weber’s Florist, Davis Family Dentistry, Dr. Nick Weber, L&J’s Restaurant, Giovanni’s Pizza of Coal Grove, Coal Grove Pharmacy, M&M Inflatables, The Tribune, All That, Ohio River Bank, Mystic Tan of Ashland, Merle Norman of Ironton, and Bob Linn’s Sporting Goods.

Also, on Saturday, Nov. 13, Rax Restaurant of Ironton allowed us to hold a pancake “Breakfast with the Princesses” where our students dressed up as Disney characters and served children from the community.

Rax was kind enough to provide the food, the workers, and the facility for us to profit from this great fundraiser. My students, colleagues, and I would like to say thank you so much for assisting and supporting us in our endeavor.

Many of my friends have moved away from this small town and I even did for a time.

However, the time away allowed met to further appreciated where I came from and the people who live around me. Many outsiders often note that business is failing here or that our small town is not what it once was.

However, even in this poor economy, our businesses continue to give to our schools and our students. I personally would rather be part of a supporting, loving, and kind community where kids come first than any other place in the world.

Thank you again Coal Grove and Ironton businesses for all you do.

Hope M. Crabtree

Ironton