Bishop McGuinness Students Raise Awareness, Money For Kidnapped Nigerians

U.S. troops are now working to save as many as 300 kidnapped Nigerian schoolgirls. The teens have been in the hands of terrorists since April. Their plight has caught the world's attention, including that of high school students in Oklahoma City.

Even with the excitement of summer break, students at Bishop McGuinness High School know of the sorrow overseas. Juniors Kate Sine and Lisa Tran helped spread awareness on behalf of the school's human rights organization. The two first learned of the mass kidnapping of the mostly Christian girls from world history teacher Maura Hobbs.

"The next class I was checking my Twitter, and I saw it on … Time and Amnesty International," Sine said.

The students say they felt an instant connection to the cause and knew they needed to work hard to help in any way they could.

"It did anger me a bit," admitted Tran. "I think it was [unfair] for them to be taken away just because of who they are and what they believe."

Awareness was spread with signs throughout the high school's hallways. Money was raised by selling bracelets -- netting more than $300 to be sent to the Malala Fund for "Bring Back Our Girls." The group was founded in 2013.

"It is right on track with doing what Jesus would do," Hobbs said.

The group signed and sent 150 letters to diplomats in Nigeria and Washington, D.C. In the last stressful days of finals, the students took time for peers halfway around the world they don't even know. It all led up to roughly 200 students leaving their Catholic school uniforms at home for a day to wear red -- a color representing the will to survive.

"It makes me feel united with them for sure," Sine said.

In a letter, President Obama told Congressional leaders the 80 troops will stay in Africa until support in resolving the kidnapping situation is no longer required.