Lighting the way: Old lights help pay for memorial scholarship
To help
Nonworking and unwanted strings of Christmas tree lights are being collected for an Anna Schenker Memorial Scholarship. The lights will be recycled for their copper wire. Also being accepted are other types of power cords and items containing copper.
From now until Jan. 15, the lights can be dropped off at collection sites at M&I Banks in Janesville and Beloit; Michael's Cycles, 2716 N. Pontiac Drive, and Simple Scissors, 201 E. Milwaukee St., Janesville; and Beloit Memorial Hospital.
Tax-deductible donations also can be made at M&I Banks. Check should be made out to the Anna Schenker Scholarship.
For more information, e-mail the family at annaschenkerscholarship@gmail.com.
Photo 
Anna Schenker
JANESVILLE — Wait!
Before you throw away those useless strings of Christmas lights, think of Anna Schenker.
Anna, 17, died three years ago in an accident at a dangerous intersection in Dane County.
The intersection has been changed, but Anna is gone forever.
Now, her parents want to establish a memorial scholarship in her honor and have found an original way to raise the funds.
From now through Jan. 15, they're collecting non-working or unwanted strings of Christmas lights.
The light strings are collected and then recycled for their copper wire.
"My husband saw something about it on television, and that's where we got the idea," Carole Schenker said.
Their goal this year is to collect 1,000 pounds of lights. Last year, they collected 590 pounds, and it yielded about $250 dollars.
Of course, they'll also take other items containing copper wire, including appliance and television cords, speaker wire, power cords and old copper stuff that might just be hanging around in the garage.
"Not only does it help us raise funds, it keeps the items out of the landfill," Schenker said.
The lights and other items are being collected at M&I Banks in Janesville and Beloit, Michael's Cycles and Simple Scissors Salon in Janesville, and Beloit Memorial Hospital.
It's an out-of-the-box idea and something the Schenkers' daughter would have appreciated.
Anna attended Parker High School but left school early and finished by home schooling herself. At 17 years old, when she should have been entering her senior year of high school, Anna started at UW-Rock County.
She loved college.
"She wasn't overly enamored of high school, but I know she loved U-Rock," Carole Schenker said.
Schenker is "99 percent sure" the memorial scholarship will go to a UW-Rock County student.
It will be the second memorial to Anna.
Shortly after the accident, the Schenkers arranged to have a shelter built along the bike trail that's near the site of the accident.
It will be another positive way to keep Anna's memory alive, her mother said.
Dec 5, 2009 at 3:59 p.m.
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If none of these location sites are convenient, PLEASE call one of the following numbers and WE WILL COME TO YOU TO PICK THEM UP!!! 608-756-3568 or 608-295-9892 Thanks everyone! Pass it on.
Dec 5, 2009 at 12:48 p.m.
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This is a wonderful thing the Schenker Family is doing in Memory of Anna. I know she is looking down and saying "WAY TO GO MOM AND DAD"
Dec 5, 2009 at 12:03 p.m.
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I saw this on Facebook too and I think it's a great idea! Anna was an amazing person, who cared deeply for others. I hope that people can really step up to the plate to make this scholarship fund a huge success, Anna's name and memory definitly deserve it!
Dec 5, 2009 at 10:34 a.m.
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What a wonderful idea! Best of luck to them.
Dec 5, 2009 at 10:03 a.m.
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I have a boat load of lights to give for this memorial scholarship.
Dec 5, 2009 at 1:15 a.m.
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What an awesome idea. I wish them all the luck and hope they raise hundreds if not thousands.
Dec 4, 2009 at 4:43 p.m.
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This is such a great idea. Copper prices have rebounded from the crash last year so this should raise a healthy amount of money. I applaud the family for trying to create something positive out of a sad situation.
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