Everything Coming Up Daisies at Scholarship Fundraiser
By Leslie Rott

From left, Colton Fisher, Anthony Rickley, Jessica Beaune, and Mackenzie Bean outside the Mackinac Island Post Office during Daisy Day.

Things were not all coming up roses, Tuesday, August 16, on Mackinac Island, they were coming up daisies. The daisies were the symbolic message for Daisy Day, a fundraiser to support the Stella King scholarship at Mackinac Island Public School. This year it raised approximately $1,100.

Stella King was Mackinac’s lay health nurse, providing prenatal, child, and general wellness programs to an isolated winter community. She used the summer seasons to raise the money needed for her clinics, and one of those fundraisers was Daisy Day.

From left: Diana Dupre, Adrienne Rilenge, and Hailey Armstrong collect donations outside Lasting Impressions gift shop on Market Street Tuesday, August 16, for the Daisy Day fundraiser.

Today, many of Miss King’s lay health programs are carried out by the staff at the Mackinac Island Medical Center, but the spirit of Daisy Day, which is the spirit of Stella King, has been brought back to support the scholarship in her name, which benefits graduates from high school here.

“Stella was a very giving person and by having a scholarship in her name, she continues to give,” said Barb Fisher, the school secretary.

She and Candi Smith started the scholarship fund drive several years ago to build the scholarship left in Nurse King’s memory.

“We don’t want to lose the memory of Stella King and what she did for this community,” said Mrs. Smith.

Activities of the day included a raffle, flower sales, and donation booths manned by Mackinac Island Public School students.

Raffle tickets were sold for $1 each or six for $5, with 10 chances to win. The first place winner was Brenda Bunker, who took home a DVD player, the second prize winner was Will Barnwell, who won daisy towels, and the third prize winner was Erica Arbib, who won two dream catchers. Trisha Bunker won a game set, David Hume won a video about Mackinac Island, Mike Gamble won a decorative miniature table and chairs set, Ed Chambers and Nona Tacey won a daisy picture frame, Lindsay Bauman won a parasol, Jennifer Bloswick won a daisy tea cozy, and Ester Wightman won a doll in a daisy dress.

Mackinac Island Public School students who helped with Daisy Day activities were Colin Armstrong, Hailey Armstrong, Mackenzie Bean, Jessica Beaune, Marie Bunker, Maggie Chambers, Lou Clark, Diana Dupre, Colton Fisher, Anthony Rickley, Adrienne Rilenge, and Amelia Roe.