The Bonnyville Centralized High School's (BCHS) Students Against Drunk Driving chapter received a $5,000 boost this month after taking top prize in a provincial school competition.
Students at BCHS competed in the Youth Philanthropy Initiative (YPI), sponsored by the Toskan Casale Foundation, as part of an English assignment. Grade 9 students worked in groups and tried to impress judges with presentations on what they learned about charities in the community.
Grade 9 students Morgan Brundige, Jamie Funk, Amanda Kuzyk, Nicholas Wagner, and Kirsten Waterfield made the presentation on behalf of SADD.
SADD members talked about what they learned about drinking and driving as well as the challenges confronting their upstart group, which started formally in February.
The money will help cover start up costs for the group, as well as to possibly bring in a public speaker to talk about of impaired driving.
“It's a very eye-opening experience for them. They see the different needs,” said Nicole Baker, a teacher advisor with the school's SADD group and YPI. The group plans to take its message into the community, said Baker.
Ruth Isley, grant co-ordinator with Northern Lights School Division, Whitney Harlton, Helping Our Peers Everywhere president, and Barrett Luciak, a past winner of the YPI, judged the competition.
“They were presenting themselves very professionally and confidently,” said Isley.
The students should be very proud of all the work they did in tackling a nimportant subject, she said.
