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SHERMAN, TEXAS—A large group of young men and women, all with shaved heads, likely will get some second looks and perhaps be asked some questions.
That’s exactly the response a group of Austin College students hope to get.
Twenty-five students had their heads shaved at Rotaract’s fourth annual St. Baldrick’s event April 12 in support of children’s cancer research. Volunteers sought donations individually in advance of the event and Rotaract also collected donations on campus. The group raised more than $3,000. Local stylists Eric Mitchell Ross and Julia Anderson donated their time to shave the heads of the students.
Freshman Anika Nichols-Payne was the most successful fundraiser among the women. She took part on behalf of two children with cancer, Tracy and Ryan, whom she knows. Other student and faculty participants were David Aiello, Abdurrahman Allawala, Katy Allen, Lance Barton, James Benson, Jordan Benson, Thomas Boyanton, Christopher Burke, Brittnay Connor, Matthew Coppola, Andrew Delgado, Andrea Hernandez, Edgar Hernandez, Paul Hess, Matt Johnstone, Katie Jolet, Christopher Joseph, Shruti Nabar, Tajin Perez, Anika Payne, Lety Pilar, Eric Ross, Igor Soares, and Anthony Tatar.
In addition to fundraising, the bald heads display solidarity with kids who are battling cancer—who usually don’t have a choice about their hairstyles. Several of the Austin College participants had grown their hair out so that having their heads shaved benefitted two organizations—St. Baldrick’s and one of various charities that accept hair donations to create and provide hairpieces to individuals who have lost their hair due to medical conditions.
All funds raised support the St. Baldrick's Foundation, which funds more in childhood cancer research grants than any organization except the U.S. government. Since 2000 when the organization began from within a group of friends, more than 183,000 volunteers—including over 16,400 women—have shaved their heads in solidarity with children with cancer at events in dozens of countries and every U.S. state. The volunteers have raised more than $100 million.
Junior Bethanie Livernois of Coppell, Texas, was the Rotaract coordinator for the event. Rotaract is a Rotary-sponsored service club for young men and women ages 18 to 30.
Austin College is a leading national independent liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas. Founded in 1849, making it the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original charter and name, the college is related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA). Recognized nationally for academic excellence in the areas of international education, pre-professional training, and leadership studies, Austin College is one of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives.
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