Austin Catholic Schools is giving credit to its students for raising enough money to surpass its annual Walkathon goal.

The event, held last Friday, garnered $27,000 for the schools; their goal this year was $25,000. The average student collected about $55 in pledges.

“I was really happy,” director Mary Holtorf said. “The students are the ones who really made the difference this time.

“Usually, we set the goals so they are attainable,” she said.

Rain forced the Walkathon —scheduled to occur at Mill Pond — inside at Pacelli High School. This is the first time the Walkathon has been open to preschool through 12th grade students.

“The Walkathon has been a long-standing tradition at our school, and we primarily hold it as a celebration of our school,” said Holli Mayer, co-director of development. “This is a statewide Walkathon event for non-public education, and the official state Walkathon date is Saturday, Oct. 3. We try to schedule our Walkathon as close to this date as possible.””

The Walkathon raised $24,000 in 2008. Proceeds benefit the schools’ general fund.

Their biggest fundraiser each year is the Discovery Auction, which netted $106,000 last May.

“The people of Austin are really generous, and we just find that a lot of times when we ask, they come through,” Holtorf said.

Homecoming events

This week is also homecoming at Pacelli High School. Coronation will be held tonight at 7 p.m. in the Pacelli Auditorium. A sock hop will follow for grades 6-12 in the gym.

On Friday morning, the football players will visit elementary classrooms, followed by a picnic for Pacelli students at Todd Park. Students will then be bussed to Lyle for a pep rally in the Lyle gym at 1 p.m., with the homecoming parade at approximately 2 p.m.

The Pacelli cross-country team will deliver the football from Austin to Lyle just prior to the homecoming game kickoff, an annual tradition. The Lyle/Pacelli Athletics will host the Mabel Canton Cougars in Lyle at 7 p.m.