From the classroom to the court: Riley Peters turns graduate project into game night fundraiser

Riley Peters is a familiar face in both the Lennox and Tea area. Peters, who grew up in Lennox, currently serves as first grade teacher in the Tea Area School District. 

By pursuing her master’s degree, Peters has extended her classroom beyond the school walls, spearheading a Chuck-a-Duck fundraiser this Friday night, Feb. 27, as the Lennox High School boys’ basketball team faces off against  the Dakota Valley Panthers. 

Born and raised into a close-knit family, Peters enjoys spending time with those close to her while staying involved in many community and school activities. 

“Having wonderful family and friends gives me the passion to show up to work each day as a First Grade Teacher for the Tea Area School District. I love working with kids and helping them grow both academically and personally,” she said.

Striving to become an even better teacher, Peters has been attending Mount Marty University to pursue a master’s degree in Coaching Leadership. 

“I started the program in August of 2025 and I have learned valuable skills in leadership, teamwork, and program development that I can apply in both the classroom setting and extracurricular school activities,” Peters said.

A testament to her creative spirit and family values, Riley has organized a Chuck-a-Duck fundraiser as part of a project for the graduate studies program. 

“To complete my graduation requirements, I wanted to design something that would bring the community together while also supporting school athletics,” she said.

In her desire to support young athletes, Peters wanted to work with a very special athlete. 

“I made a choice to partner with the Lennox Basketball Program because my sister, Andie Peters, is a Senior at Lennox High School this year, and sharing this with her is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity,” Peters said.

For weeks, Peters has been working behind the scenes to organize the event. 

“Planning this event was a great learning opportunity as it was really a hands-on experience. I was able to collaborate with school leadership and share my vision and watch it all come together while meeting school guidelines. The support from the administration has made this a smooth process,” she said.

This Friday night, Peters will see all her hard work come together during half time at the boys’ basketball game. 

“The idea of the game is simple, you purchase a rubber duck and you ‘chuck’ them towards a designated target during the event. Whoever gets their duck the closest to the target wins that prize,” Peters said.

Ducks range in price from 1 for $3, 3 for $8, 5 for $12, or 10 for $20.

 “This event is simple, fun, and encourages community participation while raising funds for school programs. Events like this bring out the best in students, families, and community members and brings people together in a fun and positive way. Events like this directly support local programs and students all while encouraging school pride,” she continued.

All money raised through the Chuck-a-Duck event will be donated back to the Lennox girls’ and boys’ basketball programs to be used for the teams’ individual needs.

For Peters, the Chuck-a-Duck fundraiser is more than just an entertaining event, it’s a chance to apply everything she has learned at Mount Marty University into practice. 

“This fundraiser connects directly to my degree requirements and gave me so much experience in organization, leadership, teamwork, and community engagement with hands-on experience in planning and leading an event that benefits students and supports school programs,” Peters said.