Cookson student council presents 'Share the Love' murals and pull‑tab drive; students describe Future Begins Today activities

Three students from Cookson Elementary presented to the Troy School District Board of Education at the March 10 meeting about school community-service projects and the Future Begins Today program.

Corbin Callison, identified as the Cookson student council president and a fifth-grader, described student-council activities including teacher-appreciation volunteering, running game stations at family nights and organizing fundraisers for local nonprofits. "Our student council helps around our school building in many ways," Corbin said.

Rosa Murray, a student who spoke with family members in the audience, explained the "Share the Love" project: library classes discussed what love looks like, then each student wrote a definition and made hearts or flowers that were compiled into murals. Students delivered the murals to the Troy Senior Citizen Center and the Troy Board of Education office. "It made us feel happy to see people smile," Murray said.

Student council members also reported collecting more than 100 pounds of pull tabs for the Ronald McDonald House; a board member noted each pull tab is worth roughly 5 cents when recycled. Another student, Bentley, described participation in Future Begins Today, listing activities such as community service at food trucks, collections for a local pantry, art for Martin Luther King Jr. events, and programs like Homework Coburn and Lunch Buddies that pair students with community volunteers.

Board members thanked the students and parents for their presentation. No board action was required.