For their outstanding fundraising, Danielle Smith, from left, Octavia Vaughn, Avery Moore and Blake Tweedie were among 19 Liberty students ‘whisked away’ in a limousine for lunch at Stevie B’s Pizza. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – Nineteen Liberty Middle School students walked the red carpet to a limousine for their hard work in fundraising.

In October, Liberty’s student body pursued a fundraiser with Cherrydale Farms. Students asked people to buy items from a catalog. Cookie dough was the biggest seller, along with food choices and wrapping paper.

Any student who sold at least 20 items won a limousine ride and free lunch at Stevie B’s Pizza. Twenty students reached their goals, and 19 accepted their limo reward, assistant principal Dr. Kary Roberts said.

Liberty’s top seller was eighth-grader Marissa Whitford, who sold 33 items for $686.50. Liberty students’ profit exceeded $11,000.

Seventy-five percent of proceeds will replace a “temporary gym wall” that needed replacement soon after the building was constructed. “Liberty is celebrating 25 years and this ‘temporary wall’ is still there,” Roberts said.

Most students who won the limo and lunch had never been inside a limousine. Roberts said their comments ranged from “I feel like royalty” and “This is so cool” to “I wonder what people are thinking when they see us drive by?”

Their limo driver was friendly and welcoming to all of their questions. “She laid out a red carpet for everyone to load the limo at the school and smiled as they asked about the car,” Roberts said.

Students shared excitement. Most students didn’t know each other, but quick conversations led to new friendships.

The limo lunch was a good fundraising incentive because of the first-time thrill of the ‘luxury treatment.’ “They think of such things as reserved for people or events of distinction,” Roberts said.

Replacing the wall will improve the “aesthetic appearance, allow for other planned renovations and allow room for installment of new bleachers,” she said. Liberty always has had only one set of bleachers. Holding school-wide assemblies, pep rallies and sporting events is extremely difficult because the entire student body cannot squeeze in comfortably.

The remaining 25 percent of funds will purchase classroom and technology upgrades.