WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Meadowlark Middle School is honoring a student who passed away in 2002, while also raising money for the American Heart Association (AHA). 

P.E. teacher and Athletic Director Chris Holloway helps teach his students the importance of health in and outside of the classroom. 

“It means more as I've gotten older because again, the older you get, the more problems you have and more important exercise is,” said Holloway. 

Besides teaching a healthy lifestyle, he also teaches his students about the legacy of a fellow student, over 20 years after his passing. 

Ben Miller was a student at Meadowlark Middle School in the early 2000s and was a pillar of the school community and athletic department. 

Photo of Ben Miller. Courtesy: Melinda Miller

“Great kid. Is one of those kids you always wanted to see every day. One of them in class all the time, thoroughly enjoyed talking to him. Our interactions were great. We're always talking about sports and golf and all things other things as well,” previous Athletic Director and P.E. teacher Marvin Francis said, who knew and worked with Ben.

Francis said Ben was a huge ACC basketball fan, especially of UNC. He said the seventh-grader would run in every day talking about the Tar Heel games, win or lose. 

Ben was born with multiple heart defects, but he didn’t let it stop him from doing his favorite things, like playing basketball. In 2002, when Ben was 13, he had a heart arrhythmia while playing a game of basketball at the YMCA and passed away. 

“We were shook up. It was very sudden. We rallied the staff and the kids and those who knew him. We rallied together. We were trying to find a way to remember him,” said Francis. 

Since his passing, the school has held a "Ben Miller Day" at the beginning of the men's ACC Tournament. Students and staff honor the student by wearing their favorite school’s gear and brining a dollar or more to be donated to the American Heart Association in Ben’s name. 

Past staff, students and Ben’s mother, Melinda Miller, also attend the day honoring the student. 

Plaque of recipients of the 'Ben Miller' award at Meadowlark Middle School. (Spectrum News 1/ Sydney McCoy)

“It keeps him alive in our family. It's wonderful to know that the students here represent him by honoring the American Heart Association and what it represents, and hopefully will help to help someone to heal from a heart disease that might not have been able to prior to their contribution,” said Melinda Miller. 

The school has raised thousands of dollars throughout the years. This year, raising $883.72 to be donated to the AHA. 

For the past 22 years, the school gives out an award in Ben’s name to a female and male athlete to keep his memory alive at an end of year banquet. 

“It's just quite an honor for them to represent Ben during the awards banquet with with an award representing him with dedication, courage and honesty to the school and and to his friends,” said Melinda Miller.