A West Middlesex High School senior creatively raised $1,300 in pennies for a school project and donated the money to charity.

Melissa Leon, 17, a senior at West Middlesex High School spent a week in February collecting loose change from her classmates for a senior project and donated the money to the Prince of Peace Center in Farrell.

"It felt good contributing to people who are less fortunate," Melissa said.

Sister Claire Marie Beichner, from the Prince of Peace Center, said she didn't know Melissa was doing the project, much less donating the funds to the center. Near the end of the project, she learned from a guidance counselor that the center would receive the contribution and said she was "deeply touched" by the effort.

"Teen-agers sometimes get a bad rap, but in the midst there are good ones like Melissa," she said. "I give her credit for her leadership capabilities and carrying out the project. Students at West Middlesex High school need a pat on the back for coming forth and making it such a success. And they did it in five days, which is phenomenal."

Each penny that students donated was worth one point, but rival classrooms could deduct potential points from classmates by adding silver to the mix: one nickel took away one penny, one dime took away two pennies and one quarter took away three pennies.

Melissa provided each of the 26 first-period classes with boxes purchased from Daffin's Candies that she sealed and prepared with small slots for change.

In the end, science teacher Allen Dudo's ninth-grade class proved victorious. The first-place class collected 15,875 pennies after 769 were deducted from silver change.

Jacob Buzzard, a junior at West Middlesex and a friend of Melissa's, said seniors at West Middlesex have to complete a project during their final year of high school.

In the past, he said, seniors have done everything from building cars to making videos.

"You can do what you want," he said. "It shows that everyone is good at something."

Melissa said the charity project idea is up for grabs next year. She got the idea for the project from government teacher Ron Rowe.

She planned it so that the winners didn't walk away empty-handed. The incentive for winning was a choice between a doughnut party or a pizza party. Her mother, Connie Leon, made cupcakes for the second- and third-place classrooms.

"My parents were very supportive and helpful," Melissa said.

After the contest, her mother helped separate the change so the bank could count it through a machine. The bank then gave Melissa a check for the amount, which she presented to the Prince of Peace Center.

Sister Claire Marie said the money will be used to help families in emergency situations.

"It's for local families who are working and having a difficult time. This includes single mothers and women who are raising children on their own and are having a difficulties," she said.

She added that she hopes to see more young people helping the needy.

"I hope young people continue to be people of compassion for those having difficult times in their lives and who need special support. I would like to commend (Melissa) and the school. Prince of Peace is extraordinarily grateful."