GULF SHORES, Ala. — Next Wednesday, eight Gulf Shores High School students will leave for Corn Island, Nicaragua to deliver much needed supplies that they have been collecting over the past year.

Teacher Maggie Ronan, who has taken several teams to Corn Island in the past, organized this trip after her students expressed interest in going. This is the first time she has taken only students, but hopes to make it an annual trip.

Students Madeline Cassady, Trent Manskow, Sarah Bosarge, Ariel Cash, Vince Gilliam, Chad Peterson, Isaac Ronan and Dylan Zorn will travel with Ronan to the five square mile island just off of the coast of Nicaragua.

Ronan was initially introduced to Corn Island by a friend who she sold a home to when she was working in Real Estate.

“Her name was Rosemary Chatfield. She took me to Corn Island and showed me her ministry to the women there. I fell in love with the place,” Ronan explained. “It became a place that I wanted to pour my heart into and help people.”

This trip will be the fifth year that Ronan has visited Corn Island.

During that time, the ministry, called Prayer Partners International, has expanded from being just a women’s ministry. Presently, their “Feed The Children” program helps to feed more than 300 children monthly.

Ronan partnered with Prayer Partners International and began taking teams from the Gulf Shores area to help work with the people on Corn Island.

“In the past, the teams have been made up of families and their children. This will be the first time I have taken a group of students,” Ronan said.

The students will be visiting three Christian schools and two public schools, delivering school supplies, speaking to the students at each school, sharing their life experiences, and making connections that they hope will last throughout the up-coming school year.

Ronan has a short DVD she shows to her classroom at the beginning of each school year, and after showing it to her class this year, the students approached her about going.

“We tossed the idea around for several months, but then the students expressed to me that they really wanted to go. So driving home from school one day a feeling came over me that, indeed I was suppose to take them,” she said. “I knew that it would change their world.”

Dylan Zorn said that they have spent time holding numerous fundraisers over the past several months, but all the money is in and the students are excited about going.

“We have bagged groceries at the Winn-Dixie stores in Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, and we had a big dodgeball tournament, charging participant $10 each to play. We also sold a lot of donated food and drinks,” Dylan said. “All of that money was used to help get the supplies that we would need for the trip.”

Junior Trent Manskow said he is going on the 10-day trip because he just wants to help.

“I watched the video and I saw kids that looked like they needed help, and I just really wanted to be a part of that,” he said.

Vince Gilliam, who has never been out of the country realizes what a great learning experience this is going to be, he and is looking forward to the interaction with the students on Corn Island.

“We will be going to the schools and churches, talking to the students, playing games with them, and just trying to show them a good time,” he said.

The Gulf Shores students will be conducting a softball tournament with the students, complete with a trophy for the winner.

Ronan said that the school has been behind them and completely supported their efforts to make the trip.

“My hope is that when we return, the students who traveled with me will realize that they made a difference by being givers, but that they will also receive something in their lives from going,” Ronan said.