Linsey Filger took her turn jumping into Colden Pond last year during Up 'til Dawn's annual fundraiser for St. Jude Children's Hospital. The Northwest chapter is hosting the fundraiser again on Nov. 20. (Photo by Carly Hostetter/Northwest Missouri State University)

Seven Northwest Missouri State University students will jump into Colden Pond after winning a penny war to helps raise awareness and funding for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.

Northwest’s Up ‘til Dawn chapter will host the Colden Pond Plunge at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 20.

Michael Haman, representing Pi Kappa Alpha; Kylie Hill, representing Alpha Delta Pi; Jenna Lee-Johnson, representing Alpha Sigma Alpha; Mary Muir and Sneha Ojha, representing Sigma Sigma Sigma; James Palmer, representing Student Senate; and Morgan Picht, representing Alpha Delta Pi; will jump into Colden Pond.

The penny war invited the Northwest community to place money in containers stationed in the J.W. Jones Student Union to determine which seven students will jump into the pond. Each penny or dollar bill was worth one positive point, and any silver coin was worth negative points.

The students with the most points were selected to participate in the plunge as the penny war raised $203.56 for the cause. All proceeds from the Colden Pond Plunge initiative go toward helping St. Jude Children’s Hospital with its operating costs and assisting St. Jude patients.

“This event is unique to the St. Jude Up 'til Dawn Executive Board because we are the only organization who hosts a plunge into the pond, and we are so excited for everyone to come and support the jumpers this year,” Patrick Baker, a senior biomedical science major from St. Joseph, Missouri, and the public relations director for Up ‘til Dawn, said.

Founded by late entertainer Danny Thomas, St. Jude is a major health care center for children and is funded almost entirely through private donations. Both a treatment center and research facility, the hospital is traditionally associated with the fight against pediatric cancer. In recent years, St. Jude scientists and physicians also have focused on genetic disorders and the development of a vaccine for pediatric AIDS.

Up ’til Dawn is a national philanthropy involving students at more than 200 colleges and universities to honor the patients of St. Jude who bravely fight cancer. With money raised by the Northwest chapter, University students help advance the mission of finding cures so St. Jude patients can grow up and go to college, too.