St. Thomas students take the Polar PlungePosted on March 5, 2016March 5, 2016 by Sunita Dharod All 39 participants take a pre-plunge picture. The group included a variety of St. Thomas students. (Sunita Dharod/TommieMedia) Freshmen Ashley Borland and Meghan Matthews enjoy a pre-plunge breakfast. The group met in the Anderson Student Center before taking a bus ride to Lake Calhoun for the event. (Sunita Dharod/TommieMedia) The first group of St. Thomas students jump in the freezing water. The Polar Plunge takes place annually to support Special Olympics. (Sunita Dharod/TommieMedia) Junior Mikayla Larson fills out the necessary paperwork for participating in the Polar Plunge. Thirty-nine St. Thomas students took the plunge. (Sunita Dharod/TommieMedia) The second St. Thomas group jumps in. The temperature was 35 degrees during the event. (Sunita Dharod/TommieMedia) The third group of students takes the jump. Some St. Thomas students wore GoPros during the plunge. (Sunita Dharod/TommieMedia) Two students celebrate as they run to warm themselves up after exiting the freezing water. The Polar Plunge supports more than 8,100 special Olympic athletes. (Sunita Dharod/TommieMedia) The fourth group of students all jump in holding hands. A couple of students even wore their Halloween costumes to the event. (Sunita Dharod/TommieMedia) Two students run to the warm tents after leaving the water. St. Thomas was among the most recognizable groups at the event. (Sunita Dharod/TommieMedia) The fifth and final group takes the plunge. John Grunwaldt raised the most money with a total of $775. (Sunita Dharod/TommieMedia) A St. Thomas student shows enthusiasm after taking the plunge. The students raised a total of $5,400 for Special Olympic athletes. (Sunita Dharod/TommieMedia)