Diving into Service: Taking the Polar Plunge at Eden Prairie High School

Rouda Hassan stood at the top of the stairs on the “Plungester,” waiting for her cue. The fire engine-red mobile tank was 46 feet long and held 2,100 gallons of water. That water would be pretty cold: The air temperature was only 44 degrees. At least the sun was out. Still, the Eden Prairie High School (EPHS) 12th grader could feel the sharp wind — but this is what she was here for. It was time. She jumped in, shoes and all. The water was definitely cold. The drenched student made her way across the tank, climbed out the other side and descended the stairs, where a dry beach towel was waiting for her. As cold as she was, the moment was a triumph: This was the Polar Plunge, a fundraising event organized by the EPHS Key Club. As their president, Rouda had helped the club raise nearly $12,000 this year in support of Special Olympics Minnesota and student activities.

The Key Club, an international student-led organization that provides service opportunities, has been organizing the “Cool School” plunge — in which the “Plungester” is brought to a school campus — at EPHS for three years. But this spring, the Key Club helped raise more than double what had been raised last year. Much of that is thanks to greater outreach from Key Club officers, like 11th grader Mariel Cortes. “We made sure to contact clubs and sports teams in advance and hosted socials […] to attract participants,” she said. “We put in months of prep, and I think most of the officers — including myself — feel proud of the work we have done.”

For the Key Club, one of the highlights of the fundraiser was hosting a High School Game Night. Students donated to play various games, enjoyed snacks and came together in a high-spirited evening in support of the Polar Plunge. “It was great to look out into a sea of high school students engaged in playing and having fun,” said Key Club advisor Brenda Walsh. That type of excited environment came alive again on the afternoon of March 24, when nearly 160 plungers took to the EPHS Main Gym for a rally ahead of jumping into a tank full of ice-cold water.

Everyone was there to support Special Olympics Minnesota. “We’ll be freezin’ for a reason, and that reason is inclusion,” said one of the student presenters to the audience. Students, dressed in their matching blue Polar Plunge t-shirts, filled the bleachers, their towels and changes of clothes next to them. A lively combo of EPHS bands and ensembles hyped up the crowd, and when the rally was over, students wasted no time heading out to the parking lot for the plunge.

A line of students — and a few staff — stretched out behind the “Plungester,” waiting for their turn to celebrate all fundraising by jumping into freezing water in front of their friends! Laughter floated across the lot as students leapt in, one after the other. Before long, all the plungers had taken their turn and hurried back inside. Only a few remained outdoors, including the Key Club officers, no doubt taking in all the excitement and success of the day.

Rouda stood with her friends, reflecting on her last year in Key Club and her last year as an EPHS student. “I feel like this was a good way to end it,” she said.