A sixth-grade science teacher's fundraiser may have backfired on her Thursday when she was chosen by the students to kiss a pig.
"I don't know whether they love me or hate me," said Maria Sauter. "But they were really excited to pick me."
Sauter organized Dayton Intermediate School's annual fundraiser for Pennies for Patients to benefit the Children's Leukemia and Lymphoma Fund.
She decided to make it a contest for students to choose who had to kiss a pig. Fourteen faculty members volunteered. Each had a jar out, and whoever received the most money was the one who would have to plant a wet one on the pig during Thursday's assembly.
"We thought it would be a fun way to increase the donations," Sauter said. "And it worked. We met our goal."
Shortly after leadership students announced the nearly $200 raised, Sauter puckered up and planted a kiss on the pig's snout.
"It's hilarious," said Austin Tingley, 11, after the deed was done.
"We never thought that our teacher would kiss a pig," added Alessandra Bartucci, 12.
They both voted for Sauter.
Kiana Gonsalves, 12, cast her vote for teacher Earl Peterson, who came in third, behind Principal Linda Flaherty.
Although it wasn't her first choice, Gonsalves said she still was happy to watch the assembly.
"I haven't ever seen a teacher actually kiss an animal," she said.
Overall, Sauter said, it wasn't too bad.
"It was cold, and wet, and a little stinky," she said. "I have definitely kissed worse in my life."