Born with cerebral palsy, he faced immense challenges throughout his life. And yet, he was a bright light in the Jamestown Public Schools community — someone who could fill a room with laughter, communicate volumes with a glance, and share a bond with his teachers built on sense of humor and pure heart.

“Anthony was so full of life,” said his mother, Kristi Senske. “Even though he had so many health challenges, he had the best sense of humor. He brought a smile to everyone’s face — and honestly, we didn’t realize how many people he had touched until after he passed. All the stories people shared with us… they’ve been a huge part of helping us heal.”

A student in the district for nearly 15 years, Anthony made a lasting impact on the students, teachers, and staff around him. After his passing on April 5, 2024, Kristi, her husband Cory, and their families launched the Anthony Senske Memorial Fund at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation — a way to carry his spirit forward by supporting the kinds of activities he loved and making the world more inclusive for children with disabilities.

That legacy will be honored as Jamestown High School students have chosen the Senske Fund to be the beneficiary of its 44th annual Jamestown High School Battle of the Classes, taking place on Thursday, April 10 in the McElrath Gymnasium at 6:30 p.m.

Proceeds from the 2025 Battle of the Classes will go to the Anthony Senske Memorial Fund at the Chautauqua Region Community Foundation in memory of the late JHS student.

The event is a school-wide competition that includes games, skills contests, and dance-offs to celebrate several weeks worth of intense fundraising for a community organization. Over the last four decades, the school has raised over $300,000 for community organizations and charities.

“Battle of the Classes is a tradition,” said Betsy Rowe-Baehr, student organization advisor. “It’s a night of fun, tug of war, dances, relay races — it’s really playful, but it’s also an opportunity for the school to get around raising money for a charitable organization. All the classes will be raising money during this time, and we encourage the community to donate if possible, attend, and support these events as we teach students the importance of giving back to our community.”

By choosing the Senske Fund, students are hoping to extend Anthony’s impact and help children in the community access the same kinds of joyful experiences he cherished — from sensory-friendly Halloween parties to inclusive field trips and Special Olympics events.

“By choosing the Anthony Senske Fund, we are helping to honor Anthony as he was a student at JHS for 3 years before he passed,” said Braelyn Peterson, co-president of the JHS Class of 2025. “The purpose of this foundation is to provide more students with needs similar to Anthony’s opportunities within the community that are sensory friendly or modified to meet their physical, mental or emotional needs. The family hopes that Anthony’s positive attitude and energy can be carried on through helping others.”

The Class of 2025 also helped spearhead a district-wide observance of National Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day in Anthony’ memory on March 25. Students and staff across the district as well as administrators and the board of education participated in the day.

Jamestown High School’s annual Battle of the Classes, a night of fun for a good cause, will take place on Thursday, April 10 at 6:30 p.m. in the McElrath Gymnasium at JHS.

Kristi Senske said she was speechless when she found out the students had chosen Anthony’s fund.

“It just means so much,” she said. “We live in an incredible community. They say it takes a village to raise a child — but in our case, it took more than a village. The support we had over the years helped shape Anthony’s life. Now, this fund gives us a way to keep shaping others’ lives, too.”

Those interested in donating can contact Rowe-Baehr at elizabeth.h.rowe-baehr@jpsny.org. Tickets are $1 presale and $2 at the door and can be purchased from any JHS class council member or by contacting the school at 716-483-3470.