This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2010, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Taylorsville • Students giggled, jumped up and down, pumped their fists and cheered in triumph as the final human dominoes fell at Eisenhower Junior High, shattering yet another world record.
"Unbelievable! Unbelievable! Unbelievable!" cried teacher Clayton Brough as it became apparent that Eisenhower had broken its ninth world record since 1987. "It worked! Give yourselves a hand!"
Eisenhower added another world record to an impressive résumé than includes the "fastest human conveyor belt" (The Book of Alternative Records) and the longest (22.17-mile) paper-clip chain (The Guinness Book of World Records). Both records still stand, Brough said.
This time, 604 students, teachers, administrators, staff and parents were transformed into human dominoes. Each participant gripped a twin-size, plastic-wrapped mattress on both sides, lined up on the school's basketball court and waited to be struck by the force of hundreds of toppling mattresses and people. In three attempts, Eisenhower's best time was 21.43 seconds.
"If the students had not put forth the energy they did, it wouldn't have been successful," said Brough, a journalism teacher and former KTVX weatherman who has overseen Eisenhower's record-breaking stunts throughout the years.
"A lot of students put forth a lot of time and hours to pull this off," he said.
As the director of World Records for Schools (WRS), Brough encourages schools to band together to plan, organize and carry out record-breaking attempts as a way to build cohesiveness and create a fun environment at school.
According to the organization's website, "WRS officials believe that when schools attempt world records, their students learn important skills — including communication, concentration, cooperation, creativity, logistics, organization, problem-solving strategies, self discipline and respect for others."
Throughout the years, Eisenhower has had many proud moments, creating the "world's largest pan loaf of bread," "world's largest Post-It note mosaic," "world's tallest tower of pencils" and "world's tallest ice cream cone," among other feats.
Eisenhower's human-domino chain broke the previous record (380 participants) set on "Live! With Regis and Kelly" on Sept. 17.
"I think it's so much fun to pull this off," said student government president Roxana Martinez, who fell backward on a mattress to start the chain reaction that fanned out across the gym. "I can't believe we did it."
R.C. Willey provided Serta mattresses to Eisenhower for the event. The mattresses retail for $150 or more but were offered to the public for $100 each; $10 from each sale will be donated to the Huntsman Cancer Institute. In addition, Eisenhower students and faculty made a $250 contribution to the nonprofit organization.
English teacher Debbie Andrews was among the human dominoes.
"It shocked you and smashed you, but you laughed because it was funny," she said. Breaking world records is something students look forward to, Andrews said.
"The energy in the school today was off the charts," she said. "Everyone was in such a good mood. It makes the school a community."
Said science teacher Robin Lyman: "Motivation is everything with these kids. If they have positive feelings about school, it makes all the difference."
The human-dominoes record will be Brough's last. He's decided to "retire" from directing world-record attempts but hopes the tradition will continue at Eisenhower.
"I'm hoping other teachers and schools will take up the interest in directing or participating in such after-school activities, which I feel provide a safe, fun and educational experience for students while making significant contributions to worthwhile causes," he said.