OMAHA, Neb. (AP) _ Students from an Omaha Catholic high school have used an annual fundraiser to show support for a gay teacher whose contract will not be renewed after he informed school officials he was engaged to his partner.

KETV-TV (http://bit.ly/1GHZrQ1 ) reports Skutt Catholic High School students wore T-shirts showing support for Matthew Eledge on Wednesday at the annual Hawk Walk, which raises money for the school’s financial aid program. An online petition alleges the school’s decision to not renew the speech teacher’s contract was made after they were told about his engagement.

The petition to persuade school officials to change their minds was launched April 7.

Earlier this month, the school’s president wrote a letter to the Skutt community stating “If a staff member cannot commit to Catholic church teachings and doctrines, he or she cannot continue to be on staff at Skutt Catholic.”