While most high school seniors were spending the money they earned from their part-time jobs on spring break and prom activities, John Stark Regional High School senior Chad Averill was paying off his senior project.

The 18-year-old graduate’s project was to install a flag pole at the John Stark football field, and after chasing businesses and private donors for funds, he spent about $400 of his own money to pay for it.

“I’m graduating this year, and I wanted to leave something behind,” said Averill, who’s been playing offensive running back and defensive middle linebacker for the John Stark Generals since his freshman year.

The old flag pole, he said, was little more than a small banner on a stick, similar to what people put outside their homes around the Fourth of July.

It made things difficult when it was time to salute the flag before games, and many people in the crowd weren’t sure where to face because they couldn’t even find it, Averill said.

Averill began asking for donations in April, sending letters out to businesses and community groups asking for $100 donations toward erecting the flag pole.

“I got one reply from the American Legion,” said Averill, in the amount of $100. His grandparents and a family friend also donated money toward the $640 price tag for the pole.

Averill, who works part-time after school at Nadeau’s Subs in Goffstown, footed the rest of the bill out of his own money.

“He’s a very kind person and works hard in school,” said Laura Newman, coordinator of the senior projects program at John Stark.

The graduating senior, who described himself as a “B-plus” student, said football has been the best part of his high school career.

The football program at John Stark is still in its infancy, and is one of the fastest growing athletics programs in the state, starting out in Division III status and with no wins in the first year. Averill has been with the blossoming program the whole time.

“It doesn’t matter if we’ve won championships. It’s just how we’ve come together as a team,” Averill said. “I already miss the football games.”

Averill said he plans on attending Mesa Technical College in Tucumcari, N.M., and believes he is the only student from John Stark who is travelling that far for school. He plans on transferring back to the University of New Hampshire after two years and working on a veterinary degree, he said.

Averill admitted that vet school is aiming high and is going to take a lot of work, but said he wants to challenge himself more in his college years.

“I haven’t really pushed myself in high school,” he said. Over the summer, Averill will work full time to build his funds back up for the move west.