West Junior High’s Brilliant Bulldog Club turns a fall fundraiser into an opportunity to build confidence, friendships and dyslexia awareness.

(From Left: Mason Williams, Bradynn Ross, Tenley Beltran)

Bradynn Ross had more than one job at Wylie West Junior High’s pumpkin patch. There was the bake sale to work, a trip outside to encourage people to stop by, and games to help with once families made their way in.

Her favorite part came with a small audience.

“You get to see all the little kids have fun,” she said.

Now in its fifth year, the pumpkin patch has become a fall tradition for the school’s Brilliant Bulldog Club, a student group that raises awareness about dyslexia and connects with younger students through reading activities. Pumpkins, baked goods and games bring families together while helping support the club’s outreach.

For the students doing the work, the event also offers something harder to measure: practice speaking up, meeting new people and finding their place in a community.

Tenley Beltran has participated for three years. By now, the pumpkin patch feels like a familiar part of her school year, even as the event continues to grow.

“Just getting to meet so many new faces and getting to connect more with the people in my group,” she said when asked what makes it special.

Bradynn Ross, participating for her second year, has noticed that growth, too. The games change. So do the bake sale offerings. Each year gives club members another opportunity to help families enjoy an afternoon together.

“Seeing it grow is really fun,” she said.

That work continues well beyond the pumpkin patch.

For Mason Williams, a favorite club activity is visiting an elementary school to read to younger children. The visits pair books with activities that give the children a chance to participate, turning reading into a shared experience between students of different ages.

“The part that I enjoy most is going to read to the kids at the elementary school,” Williams said.

Beltran enjoys those visits for much the same reason. She likes reading, and the club gives her a way to share that interest while connecting with children and spreading awareness about dyslexia.

She also wants younger students to know there is room for them in the group. Beltran said she does not have dyslexia herself, but being part of the club has helped her become more comfortable talking with others.

“It just gives you so much more confidence in speaking,” she said.

The fundraiser receives support from outside the club as well. Donated baked goods help students raise money, and the pumpkin business known as Pumpkin Man contributes a portion of its pumpkin-sale profits back to the group.

The business owner said the partnership has continued for several years. He works with schools and other groups, offering a similar contribution to support their efforts. His business began in college and has grown to include events, front porch decorating and a pumpkin patch at Refuge Ranch in Tuscola.

At West Junior High, that partnership helps support the club’s activities and visits with elementary students. A pumpkin purchase becomes part of something that continues after families take their fall decorations home.

For Beltran, the hope is that visitors leave with more than a pumpkin or a treat. She wants them to see what young people can accomplish when they come together.

“Even if they’re younger, they can build a community,” she said.

The pumpkin patch gives them a place to practice: welcoming a new face, helping a younger child with a game, or finding the confidence to start a conversation. The same students will carry those experiences into elementary classrooms when it is time to open a book and read together.