BGM fourth grader coaster project benefits the Mollie Tibbetts Memorial Fund

        Ayson Krebill, 10, presents a check for $510 to Morgan Shea, a representative of the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital Mollie Tibbetts Memorial Fund on April 2 at the BGM Schools. Pictured with Ayson are, from left: Morgan Collum, a BGM teacher, cousin and advocate of Mollie Tibbetts and one of his teachers; Kim Calderwood, Laura Calderwood, Ayson, BGM fourth grade teacher Michelle Hall and Ayson’s parents, Ashley and Adam Krebill. With the help of his family, Ayson made 120 wooden coasters with Iowa and Iowa State logos and sold part of them to raise the money for the Mollie Tibbetts Memorial Fund. Shea is not pictured. Submitted photo.

By J.O. Parker
 
          Making a difference in this world is something that a BGM Elementary School fourth grader took to heart.
      Ayson Krebill, 10, son of Adam and Ashley Krebill of Brooklyn, recently participated in a class entrepreneurship business project, raising $510 for the Stead Family Children’s Hospital Mollie Tibbetts Memorial Fund.
           The fund, in honor of the late Mollie Tibbetts, benefits child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital in Iowa City.
          Ayson presented a check to Morgan Shea, a representative of the Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, on April 2 at the school.
       Joining him at the presentation was his BGM teacher, Michelle Hall; Morgan Collum, a BGM teacher, cousin and advocate of Mollie Tibbetts and one of his teachers; Mollie’s mother, Laura Calderwood, her sister, Kim Calderwood and his parents.
          Every year, BGM fourth graders do a social studies unit on entrepreneurship in which students develop a business, create a product, set up a storefront and sell their products to one another using classroom currency.
        “Following the storefronts where the students sold their products to each other, Ayson decided to expand his business in order to benefit the Mollie Tibbetts Memorial Fund,” said his teacher, Mrs. Hall. “He produced another set of coasters and sold them online (and to family, friends and neighbors).”
            “That is where the real money comes into play,” Ayson said.
Ayson said he and his mom, Ashley, were looking for ideas when he found a set of coasters at home and thought that it would be a good idea for an entrepreneurship project.
            With the help of his dad, Ayson cut out 120 coasters, one half for the school and one half to sell, using pine wood. The coasters were 3.5 by 3.5 inches and 1/4 inch thick. Each coaster featured either the Iowa State or Iowa logo.
           Ayson said the logos were made using metal cutouts and burnt into the wood.
        As part of the class project, Ayson decided to donate the proceeds from the sale of his coasters to the Molly Tibbetts Memorial Fund.
          The coasters sold for $10 each or two for $15 and three for $20. 
         When asked why the Stead Family Children’s Hospital Mollie Tibbetts Memorial Fund, Ayson’s dad said he been to an Iowa football game and had a chance to do the Hawkeye Wave for the kids at the children’s hospital.
          “He thought that was really cool,” said Adam of his son, Ayson.
          Ayson spent about 25 hours cutting and making the coasters and selling them.
        “He worked his heart out for this,” said Billie Calderwood, an office administrator at BGM. “In this crazy old world it’s unique to find a fourth grader with such a huge heart.”
       “Ayson is an amazing kid who is a natural leader in the classroom,” noted his teacher, Mrs. Hall. “He is someone I can always count on to be a role model. This is just one of many examples of how he demonstrates great character every day.”
       Laura Calderwood, mother of the late Mollie Tibbetts, said she appreciates what Ayson did in raising more than $500 for the Mollie Tibbetts Memorial Fund supporting mental health services for youth at the Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital.
        She also sent a note of appreciation for all those who participated in the recent One Day for Iowa event, raising more than $5,000 for the Mollie Tibbetts Memorial Fund.
        “Thank you to Ayson and everyone who contributed to the memorial fund,” said Calderwood.
Mrs. Hall said her hope is that Ayson’s project and generous donation will inspire other young people to strive for greatness.
        When asked what his favorite part of the project was, Ayson said, “making the coasters.”
        Ayson said he is thinking of making and selling more of the coasters in the future.

       Ayson Krebill, 10, is shown with his storefront and coasters he made as part of a social studies entrepreneurship business project in Michelle Hall’s fourth grade class at BGM Elementary School. Ayson cut the coasters and burned Iowa and Iowa State logos in them as part of the project. He made 120 coasters and sold 60 of them online and to family, friends and neighbors, raising $510 for the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital Mollie Tibbetts Memorial Fund. He presented a check to Morgan Shea, a representative of the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital Mollie Tibbetts Memorial Fund on April 2. Submitted photo.

​         Ayson Krebill, 10, a BGM fourth grader, holds a check for $510 he was donated to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital Mollie Tibbetts Memorial Fund on April 2 at the school. Ayson created 120 wooden coasters as part of a social studies entrepreneurship business project he did in Michelle Hall’s class. He sold 60 of the coasters and donated the money to the Mollie Tibbetts Memorial Fund. Submitted photo.