Recession? What recession?

The spirit of plenty is alive — at least in the Maple River School District.

Made up of Amboy, Good Thunder, Minnesota Lake and Mapleton, the Maple River School District wouldn’t be considered particularly wealthy by any measure.

Unless, of course, that measure is fundraising.

Last year, Maple River High School seniors were rewarded nationally for raising more than $65,000 for the American Cancer Society through a Relay for Life.

This year, Maple River surpassed that effort by raising $68,450 during May’s Relay. That total was the second best in the nation for high schools with enrollments of fewer than 1,000.

“We’re moving up,” said Maple River teacher and event adviser Jim Swanson. “Maybe next year we’ll be No. 1.”

Every year, Maple River seniors are required — as part of Swanson’s social problems class — to coordinate and organize a Relay for Life fundraiser and a blood drive. The events have become something of a tradition with each class trying to top the previous year’s fundraising total.

Swanson began raising money for the American Cancer Society in 1989 when his students sponsored their first jail-and-bail fundraiser. Since then, students have raised more than $598,000.

“I started my social problems class in the late 1980s as a way for students to get serious and do something significant,” Swanson said. “I wanted to do something students could really get behind.”

Swanson’s class will begin working on their 2009 Relay for Life in January.