On Saturday morning, participants of the 10th annual Take the Plunge event braved freezing water to raise money for local students. 

The polar plunge was held at The Lake House Kitchen & Bar in Kent. General manager Mandy Yannucci said the venue is enthusiastic about hosting the event and supporting their local community. The event is a collaborative effort between Kent Roosevelt DECA, a club at Kent Roosevelt High School and the Kent Firefighter Association. 

The money raised during the event will go toward the Don Beckett Memorial Scholarship fund. The scholarship was started by Kent firefighter Don Beckett, who died of throat cancer in 2011. The scholarship is open to Kent and Franklin Township students and they normally give away several $1,000 scholarships.

Multiple people attended to show their support, including Kent Roosevelt student Mohammed Dahmani, who took multiple plunges into the cold water. As well as Olivia DeTorro, Sydney Abbuhl and Camryn Wiggins from neighboring Streetsboro High School, who learned of the event from their track coach.

Streetsboro firefighter Brian Novotny, who attended the event alongside his wife, also participated in the polar plunge.

“We came to support the Kent fire department, and for Don Beckett, and then the schools,” said Novotny.

Sara House is a photographer. Contact her at [email protected].