PEDRO — The Rock Hill Middle School National Junior Honor Society (NJHS) presented a $1,000 check to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) at an assembly Thursday afternoon after raising money as part of its large service project of the year.

“The kids come up with their large service project each year,” Denise Fraley, Rock Hill NJHS adviser, said. “The students choose what they want to donate to.”

Fraley said a few of the fundraisers the honor society did included raffling off an Ohio State Buckeye basketball and having a dodgeball tournament

One of the biggest reasons the JDRF was chosen this year is because eighth grader and NJHS member Raiden Jenkins has Type I Diabetes.

NJHS President Brady Floyd gave an introduction to open the assembly prior to a diabetes awareness video being shown, and Jenkins sharing her story about dealing with diabetes. Rock Hill superintendent Wes Hairston, who also has diabetes, followed up with his own story and said he was honored to be able to speak.

“I’m honored and privileged to come speak,” Hairston said. “It’s a wonderful thing that they’re donating money to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.”

The assembly concluded with Floyd and Jenkins presenting the check.

“It made me feel really good to be able to donate for diabetes,” Jenkins said.