CV Student Has "A Giving Heart"

The praised one of its young students for his selfless work in raising money for cancer research.

Aaron Barnett was honored for raising $1,000 for cancer research by raking leaves and shoveling sidewalks after snowfalls.

Aaron, 11, said he wanted to raise money as a way to remember his great-grandmother, Eleanor Kiggins who died last year of lung cancer. He was recognized before the board’s Tuesday night voting meeting and shook hands with each school director.

“It makes me feel really good,” Aaron said. “I think my (great)-grandma would be really proud of me right now.”

He received the $1,000 Kohl’s Cares Scholarship that will be donated to a non-profit. He received the honor with his mom, Heather Barnett, step father, Joe Nicholls, and grandmother, Geraldine Smith, in attendance at the meeting.

Heather Barnett said her son previously raised money for UNICEF, a group that helps feed children in Africa, by asking for donations rather than candy while trick-or-treating.

“I’ve been doing it for a long time,” Aaron said.

His mother said she was “very proud” of her son’s work.

“I don’t know what to say. Not all 11-year-olds want to give,” she said.

His grandmother, Geraldine Smith, added: “He has a very giving heart.”

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