Fresno Elks Lodge honors Mt. Olympus Challenge student winners

The Fresno Elks Lodge honored eight Kermit Koontz Educational Center students who completed a 10-week Mt. Olympus Challenge course on the value of charity on Tuesday, May 20 at the school’s courtyard. These students were awarded $3,500 total in cash and prizes.

The hands-on course was presented by volunteers from the Fresno Elks Lodge in conjunction with the Fresno County Office of Education at the Kermit Koontz Educational Center for students who have been expelled from their home schools throughout the county. It was made possible by a $10,000 grant from the Elks National Foundation.

The top award was presented to Mt. Olympus Challenge first-place winner Giovanni Perez. Perez is a high school sophomore who created the winning charity chosen by a group of community judges. The charity he created provides assistance to low-income families who lost a loved one and can’t afford burial expenses. He received a business suit and shoes to wear to present his charity in the final competition. Fellow students helped him raise $1,093 at his first charity fundraising event on May 18.

Other winners were: 2nd place - Nick Heredia; 3rd place - Darrell Jouett; and runners-up Esteban Roman, Ralph Sanchez, Felicia Fuller, Johnny Lopez and Gladimir Jacinto.