News Release
For Immediate Release: July 7, 2010
Contact Person: Brenda Sisler, 301-334-7730
Garrett County SADD Student Leaders Attend National Conference
to Gain New Skills in Prevention Education
Members and sponsors of Garrett County SADD groups attended the
SADD National Conference in Orlando, Florida, last week.
Pictured above from left to right are Brenda Sisler, Sarah Friend,
Sonya Thomas, Brennon Crosby, Derrick Silbaugh, and Sharon Menges.
Also attending the conference from Garrett County, but not available
for the photo, were Terry and Andrew Beachy.
Leaders from three different Garrett County Community SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) chapters joined other activists from across the country to learn the latest in prevention education.
Nearly 600 SADD youth and adult leaders gathered together at the four-day SADD National Conference in Orlando , FL , June 27 th -30 th , to share best practices in educating their peers and promoting positive decision-making. Conference sponsors included DCH Auto Group, TOYOTA Motor Sales, USA , and Bridgestone Americas, Inc.
As part of the four-day SADD National Conference, youth leaders from Friendsville, Grantsville and Crellin SADD groups attended workshops aimed at providing students with information about topics critical to youth health and safety, such as underage drinking, teen violence and suicide, driving safety, diversity, bullying, and youth advocacy. They participated in motivational activities and presentations aimed at exchanging new approaches and gathering ideas that they will now share with the community and develop into events for their SADD chapter.
“SADD students in our middle and high schools and communities are dedicated to helping our peers make safe, positive decisions,” said Brenda Sisler, Garrett County SADD Coordinator. “It was exciting to meet with other youth who share the same mission. We have learned a lot from each other, and we're excited to put our new skills into action.”
The conference is held in a different city each year to afford young people a new cultural experience. This year in Orlando , students participated in a community service school supplies drive to benefit students at University High School and were provided an opportunity to experience Universal Studio's “Islands of Adventure” theme park.
SADD, the nation's leading peer-to-peer youth education, prevention, and activism organization, is committed to empowering young people to lead initiatives in their schools and communities. Founded in 1981, today SADD has thousands of chapters in middle schools, high schools, colleges, and communities. SADD highlights prevention of many destructive behaviors and attitudes that are harmful to young people, including underage drinking, other drug use, risky and impaired driving, and teen violence and suicide.
SADD members who attended the National Conference were selected by competing in a scholarship process. Registration and travel expenses for this conference were provided by Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention and Drug Free Communities Coalition. For more information about joining one of our local community or high school SADD groups, please call the Garrett County Health Department at 301-334-7730.