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Carole Mikita ReportingAn internationally famous pop singer made a surprise appearance at Lehi High School today. The singer known as "Jewel" performed at the school as an unusual and gracious act of charity.
The energy in the auditorium was electric. 1400 students of Lehi High School were about to be part of a special program. Channel One, the in-school broadcast was on location to honor the young peoples' commitment to their community.
Shandi Mackintosh, Lehi H.S. Head Cheerleader: "We submitted a tape to Channel One and I guess we won the contest for service. And we had no intentions of this. Now Jewel is here and it's so cool."
Jewel chose the Lehi service project and came to meet the Thompson family. Meagan has a brain tumor. In September, some of the students shaved their heads in solidarity with Meagan and her younger sister, Alex, who also had a brain tumor, and to give momentum to a fundraiser for cancer treatments. Alex died November 11th; Meagan is in remission.
Meagan Thompson, Cancer Patient: "I'm really excited that Jewel was willing to come and do this for the kids. They need some kind of payback for what they did for me."
Jewel has Utah roots. She was born in Payson, her dad went to BYU and she understands the family's struggle with this disease.
Jewel: "I lost one of my best friends to cancer. And it’s a really grueling disease, it seems just really cruel. And I was just really glad to come here and lend support and try to make some awareness to it."
Jewel brought a ten thousand dollar donation that a Lehi business will match to add to what the students raised.
Angie Thompson, Meagan's Mom: "Certainly they will remember the day that Jewel came to their high school. But I hope that they will remember more the lesson learned from the service that they gave to us and our family."
And as they enjoyed a concert just for them the students could see that together they have made a difference. The Thompson family needed $180,000 for the cancer treatments. Today's donations bring the amount raised to $135,000.
The Channel One program with Jewel in Lehi will air in schools next Wednesday.
