Shumla Visit Touches Girl's Heart
Conducts fund-raiser to help

By Jaime Esquivel
jaime.esquivel@delrionewsherald.com
Staff Writer, Del Rio News-Herald

Reprinted with permission of the Del Rio News-Herald
Published February 7, 2007

With a heart of gold and mind full of curiosity, little Kyra Fuller, a student at Buena Vista Elementary, put both together to fulfill what she felt was a necessary cause.

Raising $125 may not seem like much to many, but to Kyra Fuller it was an adventure in education and patience.

After having visited the SHUMLA School — a school where students study through human use of materials, land and art — Kyra grew fond of archaeology and the different factors surrounding the study of human nature, both past and present.

While at the school she entered an essay contest.  The topic was why knowledge is so important to us today.  Kyra's answer of how knowledge was important to both human ancestors and humans today was so satisfactory that she won the contest.

After her day at SHUMLA School, she felt somehow unfulfilled.  Having noticed a sign at The Bank and Trust, Kyra decided it would be her job to try and raise funds for a good cause.

"It inspired me when I went there, and it helped me out in school," said Kyra of her visit to the school and why she decided to take on such a large task.

"It's an overwhelming thing," said Kyra's grandmother, Virginia Lowe.  "It's incredible how kids react when they see something different."

Passing out flyers and contacting businesses not only in Del Rio but also in Gonzalez and Midland, Texas, little Kyra Fuller managed to net herself $125 to help the SHUMLA School in its future endeavors. 

"I just really want to help the community," said Kyra with a smile the size of Texas on her face.

Carolyn Boyd, director at SHUMLA School, came to Del Rio especially for the donation Tuesday. She said she was blown away by Kyra's generosity.  Working for a non-profit organization makes every dollar worth more.

"When I found out that Kyra did this, just wow.  It tells us we made a difference, we impacted her life in a positive way," explained Boyd, adding, "It's just awesome!"

Kyra didn't just stop helping after her fund-raiser was over, either.  In fact, she and her brother, Tristan Fuller, visited a ranch in Eagle Pass recently and picked out various artifacts after searching the ranch grounds for hours.  Mortar and pestles, arrowheads and various tools of ancestral humans were found and also donated to the school.

For her efforts, Kyra has been invited to a members-only SHUMLA School retreat where trekkers will visit the famed Rattlesnake Canyon for a rock art exhibit.  Afterwards, she will make her way back to the school and have a meal of bison stew.

Boyd also noted that a lot of people only talk of doing something to help out their school or community.  But it takes a person of real heart to go out and actually do something.