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January 19, 2013

Citizen of the Week: Vanesa Vanegas

The Daily Citizen

Nearly every year, someone in Laurie Wright’s fifth-grade class at Westwood Elementary School chooses to give of themselves — literally.

This school year, it was Vanesa Vanegas who chose to take the leap by donating 13 inches of her long, dark hair to Locks of Love. Locks of Love is a national organization that takes donated human hair and weaves it into wigs for children who have lost their own hair to cancer treatment or other kinds of illness.

Vanesa was a little nervous to go through with the deed, but her classmates looked on in support. Stylist Pat Vaughn of Studio 312 in downtown Dalton did the cut and style right there at the school where all of Vanesa’s fellow students could see her.

Vanesa plans to donate again once her hair is long enough. Before the cut, which happened in August near the beginning of the school year, she had locks that fell well past her waist. After the cut, her hair came to her shoulders.

Wright said the haircut took a class period. Vanesa, she said, is a “really, really sweet girl” and “just an excellent student.”

“She helps her classmates all the time and has a really kind heart,” Wright said.

For demonstrating that kind heart by giving her hair to help other children, The Daily Citizen names Vanesa Vanegas Citizen of the Week.

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