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Three quarters of the junior and senior high class at The Donoho School in Anniston wore green Thursday. It was the only thing they could do.

While the family decided to offer a $20,000 reward, students donned Ben Stanford’s favorite color as a silent show of support for their missing classmate in the third full day without any word of where the high school senior might be.

“We just want him to come back,” said Jan Hurd, president of The Donoho School. “The students that were closest to him are very upset.”

Hurd said some students did not go to school Wednesday; others spent tearful hours with school counselors.

Students feel powerless, she said.

“Today they’ve really started to come together. They’re planning to begin wearing green ribbon and green armbands to show they’re thinking about him.”

Hurd said the senior class of 32 students is a tight-knit group with a history.

“We are a very close family anyway, but most of these students have been together since pre-K. So they have been deeply affected.”

She said Stanford had a reputation for being able to talk to anybody about anything and help his friends out in any situation.

Stanford’s disappearance Monday was a total surprise, Hurd said.

“When he did not show up to school on Monday, we notified his parents,” she said. Parents are expected to call when their children are not going to be in school.

“With a senior class of 32, we’re able to keep tabs on our kids pretty well.”

A Missing Child Media Alert issued Tuesday night by the Alabama Department of Public Safety said Stanford was last seen Monday in Anniston.

His 2007 Jeep Cherokee was discovered on Interstate-20 East by Georgia state troopers on Monday. It was later recovered and searched by the Carroll County, Ga., Sheriff’s Department.

The sheriff’s department also searched the area around the highway by foot patrol, with police dogs and by helicopter.

Talladega District Attorney Steve Giddens said Wednesday the vehicle “did not appear to have been wrecked and was still operable.”

Giddens also said a purchase had been made on Stanford’s credit card Monday at a Chevron station near the I-20 on-ramp in Lincoln.

In the absence of information, coworkers of Stanford’s mother, Lynne, at ERA King Realty decided to lend a hand.

“We are hitting every place we can think of with flyers and sending out mass e-mails,” said Sylvia Bentley, an agent with ERA King Realty.

She said Stanford was a familiar face around the office.

“He’s like one of the family. We’re just trying to get his face out so everyone will be aware.”

Realtors have been canvassing local businesses and posting flyers on bulletin boards advertising the $20,000 reward beneath a picture of Stanford.

Fellow students and friends set up their version of the same thing. Supporters began hosting a pair of online group message boards on the social networking site Facebook.com. One is called “Keep Ben Stanford in Your Prayers.” The other is “Wear Green Thursday for Ben.”

Participants have posted personal photos, news stories and messages about their missing comrade.

“I am praying, Ben and I grew up together,” wrote Katherine Stephens from Talladega High School. “I am keeping Ben ... the rest of his family and other friends in my prayers! Everyone keep your heads up and pray – that is all we have right now! Just be strong!”

Another young woman, Brandy Lea Waugh, wrote, “Ben, we are all so ready for you to pick up the phone and call, please let us know you’re okay!! I love ya babydoll!!”

Stanford was last seen wearing rust-colored Carhartt jeans and a long-sleeved, fleece, dark gray and purple shirt with a white Polo baseball cap. He weighs approximately 140 pounds and has brown hair and green eyes. He was driving a silver 2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee.

Anyone with information on Stanford’s whereabouts should contact the Alabama Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-228-7688 or the Lincoln Police Department at 205-763-7777.

Chris Norwood of Consolidated News Service contributed to this report.