SPHS Seniors Work Together Toward Epilepsy Awareness

Severna Park High School (SPHS) Leadership Institute students, led by seniors Alejandro Almodovar-Vives and Liam Cooney, spread awareness about epilepsy throughout the school and raised funds to donate to the Epilepsy Foundation.

The Epilepsy Foundation was created to lead the fight in helping epileptics overcome the challenges of living with epilepsy as well as furthering medical research for epilepsy. Around 3.4 million Americans are affected by epilepsy. The foundation noticed that the funds directed for epilepsy research were not nearly enough to do the research needed and were much less than the funds used for more uncommon diseases.

Through their project, “Seize the Day,” Alejandro and Liam planned and successfully ran a purple week that raised over $425 for the Epilepsy Foundation as well as successfully spread awareness throughout the school with help from Leadership Institute students and the school’s National Honor Society and student government.

“’Seize the Day’ was most certainly a success,” Liam said. “I am extremely proud of what all we were able to do this semester and am ever grateful to the (Student Government Association) and NHS for supporting our efforts as much as they did, Ms. (Heather) Barnstead and Ms. (Christine) Bowman for all of their help and leadership guidance through running the fundraiser, and most importantly, my amazing partner Alejandro Almodovar-Vives for being such a great co-leader. I couldn’t have done it without him.”

The Leadership Institute is renowned throughout Severna Park High School and its community for its support of student-led projects that help better the community. Throughout the three-year program, students develop their leadership skills. They do this through both classroom lessons as well as real-world experiences, working on projects for groups like the Make-A-Wish foundation. All of these skills eventually culminate when they begin their senior capstone projects where they partner with nonprofit organizations with the aim of helping that organization and supporting their cause.