Students encouraged to do good deeds, just like Ellen Degeneres

By ASHLEY M. WISLOCK awislock@sungazette.com
As the green “275” flashed on the screen, a hush swept across the room filled with more than 200 students Tuesday at Nippenose Elementary School.

The children realized that Michelle Lorson had just lost her chance to win them a “NEOS” game system by a mere 50 points, scoring only 225 points to another contestant’s 275.

Lorson, president of the Nippenose Valley PTA, was competing for the equipment on the nationally televised “Ellen Degeneres Show.” The show aired Tuesday.

“When I saw that screen, I was like, ’I lost,’” Lorson said.

Degeneres congratulated the game winner, Jana Lovens, a middle school teacher from Kentucky, whose school recently cut its physical education program.

But before heading into her signature dance segment, Degeneres suddenly turned to both contestants and said words that sent the two into a celebration: “You’re both getting one.”

Instantly, the library at the elementary school erupted in cheers from students and teachers who had gathered to watch Lorson’s small-screen adventure.

Lorson, who had been keeping her win a secret since the show taped on Friday, smiled as she watched her winning moment again.

Lorson said she was so excited, she accidentally bumped into the talk-show host.

“That’s when I stepped on her toe,” she said, laughing.

Degeneres gave away the equipment as part of a “pay it forward” challenge, which asked viewers to write in and explain why their organization needed the system and how it would benefit their community.

Lorson, who is working on renovating Nippenose's “pitifully outdated” playground, came up with the idea for the “play it forward” playground, which would encourage students to perform good deeds in recognition of the good deed that had been done for them.

“If I could present the kids with the NEOS and start the Play It Forward Playground, the kids would experience how good it feels when someone does something special for you, and I would encourage them to step up and pass the feeling on,” Lorson wrote in an e-mail to show executives, explaining her purpose for wanting the play system.

The NEOS, a $40,000 piece of playground equipment, is the latest Playworld invention, which allows people of all ages to play nine different light and sound themed games while exercising and having fun.

Lorson said that she wrote to the show after several attempts to secure donations for the school, as quality playground equipment is very expensive to purchase.

“It’s hard for people to get donations, so I was trying anywhere that was giving stuff away,” she said.

After weeks of being told that she was still in the running, Lorson was flown out to Los Angeles, where the show is filmed, on Friday. Show employees told Lorson that she was one of several contestants vying for the equipment, and that she may not even get a chance to compete for the grand prize.

“They told me, ‘If you don’t win, don’t be upset, we’ll take you to the prize cage,’ ” Lorson said.

The “prize cage” is where I-pods, computers and other past show prizes are kept in storage for future show guests and contestants.

“I thought I could find something for the school, like a camera or a computer at least,” Lorson said.

However, Lorson and Lovens were the only two “pay it forward” contestants in the audience that day, and both were able to return home victorious.

The machine most likely will be installed and ready for use by next school year.

Lorson said she hopes the new equipment and other improvements made to the school’s playground will turn it into an area the whole community can enjoy.

“Hopefully this will be the first building block to a great park,” she said.

Lorson left the students with her own “pay it forward” challenge.

“I want people everywhere to hear about Nippenose kids and their good deeds,” she said. “Help me show (Ellen) she picked the right school.”

Lorson plans to have the students write down all the good deeds they do over the summer, which she will combine into a book to send to Degeneres, in an effort to show the good that has come from her giveaway.

“I want to send it to Ellen to prove that (the students) earned it,” she said.

Needless to say, Degeneres has made a life-long fan out of Lorson.

“I only hugged her twice,” she said. “I wish I could have hugged her more.”