Middle school students create "Messages of Hope" for military children without a parent over the holidays

SUSSEX -- What started out as a classroom lesson, turned into a mission for three students.

"To see the effort that they put into it and the work that they put into it outside of school -- that was just really cool and just to see how engaged they were thinking about what these other children have to face," said Cody Leland, Richmond School teacher.

Cody Leland

After teaching his students about Veterans Day, Leland invited his students to make a video for the American Public Education Foundation for "Operation Sending Hope."

These videos or photos would serve as "Messages of Hope" for military children without a parent over the holidays.

"We just want to let them know that people actually care about them and give them a sense of comfort over the holidays," Leland said.

Cody Leland

Seventh-graders Aaron Koeppen, Sam Giffin-Doody, and Cameron Gohde were excited to be a part of it. They spent hours working together on their video -- creating pictures with uplifting messages.

"We kind of all like, made a script and we combined all of our ideas to make one big one," said Koeppen.

Not even knowing it was a national contest, the boys submitted their video, and they ended up in first place.

Koeppen, Giffin-Doody, and Gohde donated a portion of their cash prize to give teddy bears to sick kids who spent the holidays at Children's Hospital.

Aaron Koeppen, Sam Giffin-Doody, and Cameron Gohde

They're also working on fundraising for the VFW to continue helping military children.

"Messages of Hope" project