Greenbrier East Students Link Together For Their Teacher - Beckley, Bluefield & Lewisburg News, Weather, Sports

Greenbrier East Students Link Together For Their Teacher

Posted: Updated:
By Samantha Cahill, Greenbrier County Bureau Reporter - email

  • Local NewsLocal News

  • Thursday, May 23 2013 8:28 AM EDT2013-05-23 12:28:29 GMT
    Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin is offering West Virginia's emergency response resources to Oklahoma officials following this week's deadly tornado. Tomblin said Wednesday he spoke with Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin,
    Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin is offering West Virginia's emergency response resources to Oklahoma officials following this week's deadly tornado.

  • Wednesday, May 22 2013 7:16 PM EDT2013-05-22 23:16:09 GMT
    A West Virginia senator who's long pushed parents, coaches and communities to help protect young athletes from concussions is now sponsoring federal legislation to set safety standards for helmets. U.S.
    A West Virginia senator who's long pushed parents, coaches and communities to help protect young athletes from concussions is now sponsoring federal legislation to set safety standards for helmets.

  • Wednesday, May 22 2013 7:09 PM EDT2013-05-22 23:09:00 GMT
    It was a special day Wednesday for children and faculty at the Mercer County Early Learning Centers as they got special visitor. "I've never been down to the southern part of the state that much as a
    It was a special day Wednesday for children and faculty at the Mercer County Early Learning Centers as they got special visitor.
    •   
FAIRLEA -

More than 100 yards of green and gold paper chains were linked together on the Greenbrier East High School Football field.

It wasn't to celebrate a victory, or to break a world record.

In October, science teacher Mike Maroney heard the tragic news that his 25-year-old daughter, Cyan, had been murdered.

Maroney said it was time to take a stand.

"The chain is to symbolize us linking together against violence," said Maroney.

Students in the National Honor Society decided to sell paper chains for one dollar to bring awareness of violence against women and to raise money for a memorial scholarship in Cyan's name.

"So it took a lot of effort and we would staple everyday after school. We'd staple during football games. Just to kind of get the word out to people. It grew, the news grew and everybody got into it," said senior, Abby Bashlor.

The Greenbrier East High School students raised more than $3,000 to support the Cyan Memorial Scholarship fund and also to support link up against violence.

The students didn't hesitate to take action.

"Mr. Maroney is our quiz bowl coach and he is also an amazing teacher, and when this happened we just really wanted to support him and show him that people care about this really tragic thing that happened," said senior, Emily Vandevender.

Some of the chains had bible verses, some had messages of hope and some simply stated, stop violence.

Maroney's students and co-workers have shown him what it means to be linked together in times of sorrow.

"We're just deeply touched, the whole family is. It's just amazing. Out of this tragedy there is some good that's going to come," said Maroney.

The scholarship will provide assistance to a dance major at Connecticut College, where Cyan went to school..

The family is accepting donations to help Cyan's dance dream live on in another student