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Special to the Daily News

Valentine’s Day was a little sweeter for American veterans across the world, thanks to a service project coordinated by an eighth-grade student leadership team at Frakes Elementary School Center.

The five-person student leadership team brainstormed some possible ways to serve their school and community and decided the first project would be to send valentines to veterans as part of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs Valentines for Veterans Program.

The student team crafted a plan, complete with posters and class presentations. to encourage students in grades kindergarten through fourth grade to create valentines over a two-week period.

The response was overwhelming with nearly 100 valentines completed and mailed by the small, rural school.

Kelli Moore, service coordinator with Berea College’s GEAR UP Program (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs), worked closely with the student leadership team in developing the campaign.

“During our campaign, we had floods, ice storms and snow. Even though the weather didn’t cooperate, the children’s hearts were in this project,” said Bill Gibson, principal of Frakes School Center. “I’m very proud of how well these students stepped up and took the lead on a project that meant a lot to them and will mean even more to veterans serving our country.”

All elementary schools in Bell County have established student leadership teams through Berea College GEAR UP and its partner, College for Every Student.

Students on the Frakes Elementary leadership team include Jakob Fuson, Evonne Jones, Hayley Maiden, Kendra Newton and Kaitlyn Willis.