Staff writer
The Centre chapter of Students Against Destructive Decisions is sponsoring “Decision Day” on April 27. It is the latest in a series of activities the chapter has conducted since its inception in 2014. There are 22 members this year.
Decision Day will begin at 1:40 p.m., when Marissa Roberts will address a general assembly to relate a personal story about how her husband was killed by a distracted driver.
Allison Acridge from Kansas DUI Impact Center in Wichita will talk about the traumatic consequences of drunk driving. The center provides services to victims and their families.
Students will be split into three groups and rotate through three workshops: Peabody-Burns SADD members and a drunk driving goggles activity, distracted driving trivia game with candy prizes, and a seatbelt race in the parking lot.
In a closing session, the winner of an essay contest that was open to all Centre high school students will be recognized and will receive an iPad donated by Tri-County Telephone Company.
Everyone will receive a “good decision goodie bag.”
President Allison Basore believes the organization has had an impact.
“I think it has been a great reminder to the student body that the decisions we are making now will impact the rest of our lives,” she said. “Since our activities are done in a fun, group setting, they give students the idea that it is ‘cool’ to make constructive decisions.”
Last year, Centre SADD members raised awareness of the dangers of underage drinking by placing warning stickers on alcoholic packages at liquor stores around the county.
Another time, members placed sucker candy on cars in the school parking lot accompanied by the message, “Don’t be a sucker. Don’t text and drive.”
This year’s SADD officers are seniors Basore, Kristin Vinduska, and Carissa Shields. They expect others to step up and take over the reins next year.
“We have many new interested students and lots of ideas,” Basore said. “We are excited to finish the program of work for this year and work to make next year successful.”