Spencer Elementary Becomes a Junior Diabetes Research Foundation Bronze Star School

There's a flashy new banner hanging in , thanks to the school's Service Stars - a student council type organization still in its first year.

The Service Stars are made up of 22 students who make decisions and plan community service projects and fundraisers.

"Our goal is to do something for the world, something for the community and something for Spencer," Jennifer Castiglione, Service Stars Facilitator said. "We want to help our community and our school, but we're larger than just Spencer Elementary. We wanted to make sure they (students) were aware of that."

The group held its first major fundraiser of the year - to raise money for the Junior Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), because of the two students in the school who have Type 1 Diabetes: brothers Austin Andring, 7, and Cody Andring, 5.

The JDRF is committed to finding a cure for Type 1 Diabetes and offers a range of programs and services for those living with the disease and those caring for them.

The goal was to raise $1,000 in one week by collecting change. They ended up raising $1,774. As a school who raised more than $1,000, JDRF created a banner with Spencer Elementary's name, declaring it a Bronze Star School.

"Each classroom had a change box and all students were encouraged to bring in their spare change, because we didn't want it to be taxing on any family," Castiglione said. "The last day, we doubled the amount we had during the week. It was amazing what they did in such a short amount of time."

Seven-year-old Service Star member Marshall Beaker's first grade class raised the most amount of money. Instead of having a pizza party for winning, the class voted to have a donut party.

Spencer fourth-grader Aidan Riley said he really likes being a part of the Service Stars.

"I think its really fun," Riley said. "We pretty much get to run it by ourselves. It's not some person telling us what to do.