Almost 80 participants took the plunge at the local YMCA on Saturday morning, January 27, 2024 to support Special Olympics. This is the twelth year that Bartlesville has been one of the Polar Plunge sites for Special Olympics Oklahoma. Each participant is challenged to raise $75 and take the plunge into the water.
Bartlesville High School Special Education teacher Brandi Avery reported that this year's Bartlesville Polar Plunge was especially successful, raising almost $20,000 with 15 teams and 10 individuals participating. Almost every school in the district was represented.
The top overall fundraiser was Keely Messerli with $4,000. Central Middle School's team raised $1,220, Wayside Elementary $680, Hoover Elementary $560, Wilson Elementary $425, Ranch Heights Elementary $340, Richard Kane Elementary $260, Madison Middle School $150, and Bartlesville High School $100.
You can watch the plunges on Bruin TV.