On February 2, students from all over the state met at Sandy Point, Annapolis to jump in the cold water for the Polar Bear Plunge.

This included 25 students from Linganore who raised money to go toward the Special Olympics in order to take part in the event.

Students met after first block to catch the bus and make it in time for the first plunge of the day. Upon arrival, students grabbed a free lunch provided by Wawa and then headed down to the beach.

After several minutes of mental preparation and attempting to get used to the cold, thousands of students rushed into freezing water. Some even took the plunge as far as they possibly could, going out to the line of officers that marked the end of the “plunge zone.”

The Polar Bear Plunge was an exhilerating experience for all those that took part.

“The water was freezing, the adrenaline rush [was] amazing and it’s fun to go and give the officer a high five,” Genesis Maldonado, a junior at Linganore, said.

Although the water was freezing, the participating students did it for a greater purpose, knowing that their contributions would make a difference to Special Olympics athletes.

Together, Linganore students faced this cold challenge as a community.

Senior Sarah Webb said, “I think it’s a good opportunity to be able to [give back] to the community, a great cause, [a] great way to get out of school and [it’s a] field trip.”

The plunge had amazing outcomes from the money raised and the number of schools that participated. Approximately 5,000 students from schools across Maryland participated in the plunge. And while the original goal was to raise $400,000, students exceeded that goal by raising $600,000, a record high for the event.

Senior Lily Reynolds said, “No Special Olympics family or unified sports family should pay any fees, so our money is going directly to athletes.”

The plunge is a very important event for Linganore students. It gives them an opportunity to step out of their comfort zone and do something for the community, which can be a life-changing experience.

Linganore has been involved in the plunge for many years. Career and technology education teacher Jeremy Brown has coordinated the plunge field trip since 2010.

“I think it’s just fun, and it’s a great way to raise money to help with Special Olympics to be sure everyone is included and having sports and team experiences,” Brown said.