In October, Lake Shore hosted a memorial for an alumnus of the class of ‘75. It was for the Saint Clair Shores Olympic hero Mark Wells, an inspirational hockey player who was on the 1980 “Miracle on Ice” gold medal hockey team.
Not only did this memorial honor and celebrate Wells, but it also established his identity in the newest part of the school, the hub. With support from the Lake Shore Foundation for Educational Excellence, the district installed a bubble hockey rink dedicated to Wells.
Lake Shore is dedicated to honoring its students while also expressing meaningful messages to the community. The administrators questioned how they could celebrate Wells in a way that the entire community could appreciate and cherish.
Dr. Bross, Lake Shore principal, says, “We’ve always had in this community and in our school, you know, a big heart for Mark Wells and what he represents for us. On the flip side, Dr. Lewis, our deputy superintendent, is like a huge bubble hockey enthusiast. So, like, we just really saw the passing of Mark Wells as a way to honor him, and with the support of our foundation, the Lake Shore Foundation for Educational Excellence, they supported this.”
This was a huge success as many people have played and love the bubble hockey machine. Clayton Rogers, a freshman hockey player, says, “I saw a lot of people playing the machine.”
Not only do people like and play the hockey machine, but they also understand the message and meaning behind it, giving the true meaning to ‘Once a Shorian, Always a Shorian.’
Bross says, “I think that kids that care to know about what it represents will see the bigger message about how we all leave a legacy behind, and even if we don’t realize it when we’re in high school…we are capable of great things and so many of the people that we know that have gone through this school have gone on to do amazing things.”
Rogers agrees, saying, “I think it’s like since we honor our players, we really enjoy talking about our history, about like all the athletes and great players from our sport.”
While you’re enjoying your lunch or strolling through the halls, take a moment to admire the bubble hockey machine dedicated to Mark Wells. Reflect on ways you can give to your community, remembering that he was once in the same position as you. What steps can you take to make a positive impact?
