Aside from regular schoolwork and preparing for homecoming festivities, Selma High School students have been promoting breast cancer awareness by raising money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of Birmingham.

For their midterm exam, LaTanglia Williams, health education teacher at Selma High, had her students create breast cancer awareness posters and raise money for the foundation.

Combining all the money raised from all her classes, Williams said a total of $416.17 was raised for the cause.

“They had a two week period to raise the money,” Williams said. “I just want them to learn that you don’t have to get paid for everything, you need to give back and help a worthy cause.”

As a way to show her students that their hard work was making a difference, she had Carol Sue Nelson, a representative from the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, visit her class Friday.

“All the money will go right into the research foundation, which is completely nonprofit,” Nelson said. “With the help of these students and Ms. Williams, every bit helps because sometimes we get matching grants from national organizations.”

MaKayla Tripp, a sophomore, raised the most money out of all of her classmates with a total of $76.

Tripp said the majority of her donations came from church members and friends.

“My aunt has breast cancer,” Tripp said. “So raising this money was close to my heart.”

Williams said she was very impressed with her students for raising the money and making the posters.

Sophomore Martavious Stallworth won the title of best poster.

“My cousin died from breast cancer, so I though it was a great cause,” Stallworth said.

Williams said she plans on promoting awareness every October because her students gained valuable information and awareness about breast cancer.

“Breast cancer affects one in eight women and that touches every life,” Nelson said. “We’re really appreciative of what these students have done.”