Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
LEHI — Students at Lehi High School came together to help a teacher injured during class last Friday.
The Lehi Police Department and the Alpine School District said the teacher suffered injuries and was taken to a hospital after an accident. Details of what type of accident happened have not been released by the district. The teacher, whose name has not been released, was taken to a local hospital.
"I think it was just rough for all of us to realize that he was hurt because he's not just a teacher. He's a great friend and mentor," said Cayden Winter, one of his students.
Students said the incident happened during shop class.
"The whole area was shut down; the police were there, and the fire department was there," Winter said.
"For me, it was a lot of panic like, 'Shoot, is he going to be OK?" added another student, Tyce Baumgartner.
Baumgartner and Winter said uncertainty for the teacher also sunk in with the school year almost over.
They said a few hours after the incident, large groups of students decided to band together to collect flowers and well wishes. They even created vinyl stickers, hoping to be passed out at local car meets.
"And then Tyce came up with the GoFundMe*, and it just blew up," Winter said.
Since the accident on Friday, more than $25,000 has been donated, which will go toward the teacher's medical expenses.
"I didn't even think we would hit $10,000; like I thought it was too lofty of a goal," Baumgartner said.
He added that he was grateful to everyone who had donated.
"(The teacher) cares for everyone individually," Baumgartner said. "I feel like he knows me, and I'm not just another face in the crowd."
All of this work is to help an educator who means so much to the two students.
"We're all here to help," Winter said.
*KSL.com does not assure that the money deposited to the account will be applied for the benefit of the persons named as beneficiaries. If you are considering a deposit to the account, you should consult your own advisers and otherwise proceed at your own risk.
