Published: October 20, 2009 12:15 am      

MIDDLEPORT: Rachel’s legacy lives on at Roy-Hart

MIDDLEPORT — Some time ago, Darrell Scott — the father of Rachel Scott — received a call from Austin, a disc jockey in Colorado who just had a baby girl. Scott was touched to learn Austin would name his daughter Rachel.

Years before, Austin had gotten a flat tire on a very cold and miserable night. He had just survived a bad day at work and was struggling with the tire when a teenage girl pulled over to help. Along with an umbrella and a flashlight, the girl also had a bubbly personality that actually ticked Austin off at first. Afterwards, Austin said he thought an angel had helped him change the tire.

Just weeks later, Austin saw the girl’s picture in the paper as one of the victims of the Columbine High School shootings on April 20, 1999. Her name was Rachel Joy Scott.

That story was told to the Royalton-Hartland community Monday night by Jimmy Braden, a speaker with the Rachel’s Challenge program. Braden presented the second part of the challenge, entitled “Rachel’s Legacy, The Power of One,” to Roy-Hart students and families. The first part of the challenge was presented at Roy-Hart in April.

Middle school Principal John Fisgus said the response of the students to Rachel’s Legacy has been fantastic. Prior to the community assembly Monday night, Rachel’s Legacy was presented to the students at the middle and high schools during the day.

“It has been a great day,” he said.

Rachel’s Challenge is a character education program that visits schools all over the country. The program promotes kindness and compassion among students, and is based on a number of writings by Rachel Scott.

Rachel’s Legacy touched on some stories about Rachel Scott, including students who felt like outcasts until Scott met them. There was a student, Adam, who was saved by Rachel’s kindness. Picked on constantly, Adam had contemplated suicide before meeting Rachel. School bullies Mark and Valerie were also befriended by Rachel, eventually stopping their bullying ways. Mark even wrote a letter thanking Rachel for changing his life.

Roy-Hart was given five challenges by Braden. The five include appreciating others, responding to the needs of others, being a first initiator, being a “see through-er” not a “look at-er,” and forgiving yourself. Braden even told a story about Rachel not helping someone. While Rachel was at work at a Subway, a homeless woman came in and sat by the window. Rachel thought the woman looked hungry and started to make her a sandwich but she decided against it. Then another woman walked in and bought the homeless woman a sandwich. Rachel felt convinced.

“She never wanted to miss another opportunity,” Braden said.

The homeless woman left gloves behind, which Rachel found. Rachel held on to the gloves in case the woman returned, but she never did. Instead, the gloves were placed on Rachel’s dresser to serve as a reminder, Braden said.

Roy-Hart senior Chelsea Delgiorno is a member of the school’s Friends of Rachel club. The club looks for ways to keep Rachel’s message going by promoting kindness and helping others through a variety of activities, such as raising money for Operation Smile, a children’s charity that treats facial deformities.

Delgiorno was among the students who attended Rachel’s Challenge when it first came to Roy-Hart.

“It’s a good opportunity to join the school and community together,” Delgiorno said.

Since Rachel’s Challenge came in April, Roy-Hart Middle School has a hallway covered with purple hands. Along with a banner the students signed Monday, the hands represent Roy-Hart’s acceptance of Rachel’s Challenge to start a chain reaction of kindness, Fisgus said.

“I know they’re ready to accept,” he said.

Contact reporter Joe Olenick at 439-9222, ext. 6241.