Great balls of …tape?

Published 11:30 am Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Morgan Academy’s outpouring of love and support for one its own bore fruit on Tuesday.

The school presented Teresa Collins — a Morgan teacher and wife of the late Mike Collins — with a check for $4,400 as part of “Cramer Day” festivities on Tuesday.

“It was all about thanking her for her service to Morgan,” said Janice Lyon, a teacher at Morgan. “We wanted to be positive today, and I think it was very uplifting for all of us. We’re just thankful our school can do something like that.”

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“Cramer” is the name affectionately given to a 165-pound ball of tape started by 10th grader Taylor Copeland.

“It was kind of a joke, something to do between classes, something fun,” said Copeland. “It turned out to be something great for Mrs. Collins.”

As Copeland’s ball of tape grew, so did its presence on campus. Cramer is a regular at pep rallies and in hallways at Morgan.

Its growth also coincided as Mike Collins’s health worsened, and the school decided to put the ball to good use for the fundraiser.

Lyon contacted the Cramer Tape Company for assistance on expanding its size, the ball was dubbed Cramer and the rest is history.

On Tuesday, it was present on a sea of blue shirts that were sold for the fundraiser.

“I didn’t think they were going to raise that much,” said Morgan 10th grader Diego Garcia, who though of the T-shirt idea. “I’m glad I could help in some kind of way.”

Morgan’s Student Government Association pitched in its own efforts as well. At the beginning of the year, the organization planned a powder-puff football game between girls from the senior and junior classes. As Cramer Day picked up steam, SGA decided its proceeds should go to the Collins family as well.

The seniors won Monday’s game 16-0 — prompting demands of a spring rematch from the juniors — but everyone kept the game’s purpose in sight. The game raised more than $900, which is in addition to the $4,400 Cramer brought in.

“I’m just very glad we got the money to Mrs. Collins,” said 10th grader Connor Thorpe. “She gave a lot to us over the year, and she taught us and everything and we love her for it.”