As part of their mandatory senior project, 16 Seton Hill University students in Dr. David Droppa's honors class dreamed up a masquerade ball fundraiser they will host Saturday at Giannilli's II in Unity.
And the beneficiary is particularly close to one student's heart.
Erikka Long, 22, a psychology major from Coudersport in Potter County has been involved with the Yellow Ribbon Suicide Prevention Program for five years. The suicide of her former boyfriend, and the loss by suicide of several other friends in her home community, led to her planning a fundraising dance as her high school service project.
So when her Seton Hill peers were debating a cause for this weekend's event, she suggested the Yellow Ribbon program to her integrative seminar class.
"I've been a survivor of suicide for five years," Long said. "I think this is a great cause.
"So many college students are affected by it," she said. "It's something every college campus faces."
For that reason, the students hope Saturday's event will attract partygoers in the 18 to 25 age range.
"That's the age group right now that's really losing a lot (to suicide)," Long said.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide is the third-leading cause of death among 15- to 24-year-olds. The centers' statistics show suicide accounts for 13 percent of all deaths annually in that age group.
Overall, 2005 statistics show, more than 32,000 suicides occurred in the United States among all age groups, the equivalent of 89 suicides per day.
"We want to get it out there because not enough people talk about it," Long said.
She said Potter County Judge John Leete, who is active with that county's chapter of the Yellow Ribbon program, will be the keynote speaker Saturday.
According to Droppa, the senior projects must embrace social responsibility and teach students workplace skills, including teamwork.
"I encourage them to think big and bold and take risks," he said.
"Most of (the projects) are more modest than this one," Droppa said. "This is a group of very smart students. They came up with an 'off the hill' project to raise awareness about the issue of suicide."
After the ball, the students will write individual overviews about what they learned from the project and what they are taking from it, Droppa said. The paper counts for 20 percent of their grade.
The students have been holding candy, bake and raffle sales to raise money to pay for the event, Long said. And they have received donations from area businesses and university organizations.
"We welcome any donations at this point," Long said.
The students hope to raise at least several hundred dollars for the Yellow Ribbon program after paying all costs associated with the ball.
Tickets cost $12 for the dance and $18 for the dinner-dance, and include a mask, Long said.
For more information, call Long at 814-558-3948, or e-mail Kalesha Jenkins at jen3628@setonhill.edu .
