BOARDMAN — Of course art teachers appreciate color, but for Boardman elementary art teacher Susan Shook, the color pink may have the deepest meaning.

This month, Shook celebrates 11 years as a cancer survivor. She was diagnosed with a very aggressive form of breast cancer in October 2009.

She was thrilled to celebrate a “Pink Out” on Oct. 23 with her students at West Boulevard Elementary School.

Shook wore a tie-dye pink shirt with ‘Survivor’ scrawled across the chest. Her first graders colored their Halloween pumpkins with patterns and glued them on a spooky backdrop. While orange and black were the colors they used, most of them were dressed in shades of pink.

In fact, most of the school was dressed in pink.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Pink outs have been a staple at all of Boardman’s elementary schools for years to raise cancer awareness, and sometimes donations to fight cancer.

Next door, Karen Sutton’s second grade was donning pink masks, pink shirts, pants or bows. The pink reminder is good for all to know and follow the guidelines and get checked. Early detection is always a great advantage in the fight.

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