ANKENY, Iowa — Christmas came early for the Ankeny Police Department on Sunday. Brecken Arringdale and Jaxen Quinn, two Prairie Ridge Middle School students delivered ornaments, custom-made just for officers and staff.
All 87 of the ornaments had the Ankeny PD logo on the front, with the name of the recipient and their badge number on the back.
“We just want to congratulate these officers for all the work they do in keeping the city safe,” Quinn said.
Everyone in the Ankeny Police Department, including those who don’t patrol, received a custom ornament.
“Christmas is about giving right?” Arringdale said.
All the work was done in Quinn and Arringdale’s art class taught by Kevin McColley.
The ornaments weren't a class requirement and the students took it upon themselves to give back.
“The best part of my job is when kids are wanting to extend and go past their core requirement, and think of others before themself,” McColley said.
The students started by having a machine cut plywood into badge-shaped ornaments. They then uploaded the Ankeny Police logo and had a laser engraver etch the image into the ornaments.
“There was a wood carve out where we would put them on,” Quinn said. “Then we'd have them get lasered in and they would just go to a machine.”
To thank them, Ankeny police gifted the students an honor guard patch, a challenge coin and a certificate of appreciation.
"We appreciated it a lot,” Sgt. Corey Schneden said. “Usually we don't get things at Christmas. It's nice for us to get something this year.”
McColley said some of his other students have made similar ornaments for the Animal Rescue League of Iowa and nursing homes.