Ellie Mayer knows how to get a crowd going.

With a buzzing gymnasium packed full of excited classmates, the Hartley-Melvin-Sanborn second grader received the most-viewed haircut of her young life last Friday. Her mother, Angie Mayer, meticulously chopped off six ponytails that will be donated to Wigs For Kids, which provides hairpieces for pediatric cancer patients undergoing treatment.

Despite the big audience, Ellie wasn't nervous.

"I kinda wanted a short haircut when I saw my mommy's short hair," she said.

The big showcase was in honor of Ellie's grandma and Angie's mother, Joan Helmers, of...