City Times Staff

Art Greco, a teacher at Ben Franklin Jr. High, puts on his best smile Thursday as students from his World of Business class take turns shaving off his hair.

Going bald was an incentive for the 15 ninth graders — and one eighth grade student — in the class to exceed an initial $1,500 fundraising goal they’d set earlier in the semester. The class project was learning about business skills by raising funds for a local non-profit organization, and with the help of City Times’ readers via an online poll, they’d chose the Portage Co. K-9 Unit.

For $5,000 in donated funds, the students would get to shave Greco’s head. For $10,000, the beard and mustache would go as well.

The students raised $7,000 for the cause, exceeding everyone’s expectations. Greco’s head was shaved before an all-school assembly and deafening cheers.

“Remember this experience for the rest of your lives,” Greco told the students on June 2, which also marked the last day of the regular school year for students. “These guys did an amazing job and I’m so proud of them all.”