Pine View High’s annual fundraiser gathers $56K for 8-year-old boy with rare genetic disease

Written by Ammon Teare
March 16, 2022

ST. GEORGE — Sixteen Pine View High School students took the stage in their school auditorium on March 8, each representing a club or team in the annual Mr. PVHS pageant that marks the end of a two-month fundraising competition.

Pine View student council members and faculty advisors surround the Skouson family after awarding them more than $56,000 in funds raised for medical expenses, St. George, Utah, March 8, 2022 | Photo Ammon Teare, St. George News

The contestants were prepared to show their school spirit and compete to win the title of Mr./Miss PVHS, but most of all they were looking forward to sharing the stage and title with the recipient of this year’s fundraising: 8-year-old Adam Skouson.

Cheering in the crowd – and occasionally covering their ears when the applause grew too loud – Adam and his twin brother Isaac Skouson sat with their parents and siblings as guests of honor. The family was invited to the assembly to be recognized and receive a competition-record sum of $56,402 – all raised to help the family pay for medical expenses.

“It’s been a little overwhelming at times, but it’s been such an honor to be chosen for Mr. PVHS,” said Deborah Skouson, Adam’s mother. “We’re just eternally grateful. Adam has loved every minute of the attention. I think it’s going to be an adjustment not to get the attention anymore. We love Pine View so much, and we will forever love the Panthers.”

The Skouson twins were diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) when they were just two years old. As a genetic condition that causes tumors to grow throughout the nervous system, NF1 can impair learning, create cardiovascular problems, cause severe pain and lead to hearing and vision loss, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Approximately 1 in 3,000 children are born with NF1, and the outlook and treatment for each child widely vary. Peter and Deborah Skouson saw some of their worst fears realized when a large tumor was detected on Adam Skouson’s brain just last year. 

Adam Skouson (right), who suffers from a genetic condition called neurofibromatosis type 1, was the recipient of money during the 12th Annual Mr. PVHS charity competition, St. George, Utah, Feb. 15, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Kerry Moody, St. George News

A biopsy revealed that the tumor was noncancerous, but Adam still had to begin a two-year chemotherapy treatment as well as occupational therapy and regular blood work.  

“NF-1 is a congenital thing, so we know how it’s impacting Adam, but we have no idea how it’s going to impact Isaac,” said Peter Skouson. “So this will help us plan ahead for his future. We really have felt the love, and I don’t know what else to say (to donors) but thank you very much.”

Still, Adam’s parents said he has remained upbeat and positive despite his challenges, and when he’s not attending Sandstone Elementary School he loves to play Minecraft or Roblox, spend time outside and enjoy his favorite foods: chicken nuggets, French fries and root beer.

Mr./Miss PVHS Pageant

As the capstone event for Pine View’s largest fundraiser of the year, the Mr. PVHS pageant builds on the work of students leading up to the final assembly.

Clubs and teams compete to raise more money than the rest, organizing events, selling goods and services or asking for donations to raise funds, said Kerry Moody, a Pine View science teacher and student council advisor.

Listing just a few of the ways students raised money this year, Moody said:

We always have a 5K that cross country does, and they also do a root beer mile where you run a lap, chug a root beer and then run again – some end up throwing up. There was a benefit concert, a band dinner night, and a silent auction that was really successful this year. Student council was passing buckets at every game. We sold T-shirts. We’ve had food trucks and restaurants that have donated proceeds back to us. Whatever a club or team wants to do, it’s fun because we like to compete against each other. But in the end it all goes toward the family.

In the past 11 years – not counting this year’s record-breaking sum – the competition has raised over $185,000 for 11 families facing serious medical challenges. Last year set the previous high water mark by raising a little more than $43,000.

Pine View High’s feeder schools also joined the fundraising effort, with students at elementary, intermediate and middle schools pitching in to help.

Elementary students in the Pine View High School cone site organized a bake sale to raise funds for their classmate Adam Skouson, St. George, Utah, Feb. 25, 2022 | Photo courtesy of Kerry Moody, St. George News

“We set a goal as a cone site (Pine View High and feeder schools) to raise $10,000 together,” said Melissa Dietzel, principal of Sandstone Elementary. “We are happy to announce that Sandstone alone was able to raise $10,000 for the Skouson family. This was a tremendous effort by the community here, and I am so proud of the heart and support that went into this fundraiser.”

After each team or club’s contributions were totaled, the organizations chose a representative to compete for the title of Mr./Miss PVHS and a traveling trophy to be kept by the team/club until next year’s fundraiser.

A panel of judges from feeder schools and the community was invited to judge the contestants’ performance at the March 8 assembly, scoring each participant on their organization’s fundraising, their personal talent, an activewear fashion show and a question and answer portion.

Following a choreographed dance number featuring all 16 contestants, the final group of competitors was narrowed down to the representatives of the five highest-raising student groups. Finalists included Stella Rose (student council), Wyatt Brown (choir and theater), Sicily Stephenson (FFA), Peyton Calico (cross country and track) and Emma Meidell (band).

Performing her original rendition of “Mr. PVHS” (set to the tune of “Love Story” by Taylor Swift), Rose won the pageant with Calico and Meidell finishing as runners-up.

Principal Mike Mees offered his congratulations to the winning students and told St. George News how proud he was of the students’ work to help a deserving family.

“Today we got to watch how the kids rally together for a common cause, led by some wonderful students in our executive council and their advisors,” said Principal Mike Mees. “It’s become a real tradition, and it’s all about thinking of others first and coming together to serve them.”

Photo Gallery

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2022, all rights reserved.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ammon Teare has always considered Southern Utah his home away from home, having spent summers and holidays visiting family in Cedar City and St. George. With a love of the wilderness and a passion for writing, he’s dreamt of becoming a reporter since his elementary school days. After moving from Texas to New Mexico to Utah as he grew up, Ammon wound up studying journalism at Utah State University, where he graduated in May 2020. In his free time, you’ll find him watching the Utah Jazz or playing a board game with his wife, hiking in the great outdoors, or sprawled someplace comfortable reading a fantasy novel.

Email: [email protected]
Twitter: @STGnews

Free News Delivery by Email

Would you like to have the day's news stories delivered right to your inbox every evening? Enter your email below to start!