Nearly 20 male students and teachers at Shady Side Academy Senior School raised $217 for cancer awareness and research by participating in No-Shave November.

Senior School dress standards require boys to be clean-shaven; however, students participating in No-Shave November were given permission to let their facial hair grow for a month in return for a donation to No Shave November, which invests in groundbreaking cancer research and provides free information and services to cancer patients and their caregivers.

Student participants were "judged" on facial hair length, thickness and creativity by an esteemed panel of bearded faculty members at assembly on Nov. 28. The winner, senior Rakesh Ravi, will be allowed to let his facial hair continue growing through December if he wishes. The effort was spearheaded by SSA seniors Sameer Annamraju and Aziz Yuldoshev and language teacher Denis Cronin. Other participants included science teacher John Landreth, seniors Eli Abo, Knox Coulter, Peter Foster, Caldwell Holden, Clayton Krol, Arman Lateef, Leonard McAllister, Cole Newman, Graham Purnell and Michael Zuley, junior Josh Morrow, sophomores Cliff Forrest and Harris Khan, and freshman Sam Gerlach. Some of the participants are pictured above.

No-Shave November is a month-long effort during which participants forgo shaving and grooming in order to evoke conversation and raise cancer awareness. The goal is to grow awareness by embracing hair, which many cancer patients lose, and letting it grow wild and free. Participants are asked to donate the money they would typically spend on shaving and grooming to educate about cancer prevention, save lives and aid those fighting the battle. Learn more at www.no-shave.org.

Congratulations to all who participated!