The annual Pike Liberal Arts Homecoming “Junior-Senior War” turned humanitarian this year. Rather than toilet paper each other’s homes and lawns, the students made donations to the North Carolina Relief fund.

Angie Grice, PLAS assistant headmaster, said each year at Homecoming the Junior-Senior War is waged with the rolling of toilet paper – whether houses, lawns or cars.

But this year, the school administration found a way to wage war that would have far-reaching positive benefits. 

Rather than roll toilet paper, the juniors and seniors were challenged to donate that toilet paper and other supplies to the North Carolina Relief fund.

Grice said the PLAS juniors and seniors were eager to participate in the humanitarian effort for the hurricane victims in North Carolina.

“The students were challenged to bring supplies, from bottled water and paper products to toothpaste and pet foods,” Grice said. “The junior and senior classes were very competitive but they were also aware of the devastation in North Carolina and the great need of its citizens. Each class wanted to win but they also wanted to help meet the needs there in North Carolina.”

As with any war, to the victors go the spoils, so the PLAS junior class had the satisfaction of having won. And to their surprise, the spoils of victory were even greater than first thought. Members of the PLAS Foundation Board decided to donate funds for the students to spend a day at Six Flags in Atlanta.

However, the senior class won the best design display and contributed greatly to the cause, so the board decided to also make the spoils of victory available to the seniors.

Grice said after the Junior-Senior War ended on Homecoming afternoon, the opportunity to participate in the North Carolina Relief effort was opened to the student body, from K4 through the 10th grade.

“We wanted all students to have the opportunity to be involved,” Grice said. “At PLAS we encourage our students to be community servants. This relief effort is an opportunity to go beyond our own community to help victims of a natural disaster.”

What began as a competition between the two classes, became a school-wide effort and has now spilled over into the Troy community. PLAS is a temporary drop-off point for all who want to contribute – churches, organizations, schools and individuals.

Thursday is the deadline for all donations. A truck will leave on Friday to deliver the donated items to a specified location in North Carolina.