Three Dawson County High School students participated in the 2008 Youth Summit, where they pledged to help their community in one of four areas: education, health, economic development or safety.

Health was chosen by the participating Dawson County High School students.

The delegates representing Dawson County at the 2008 Youth Summit were Rose Samples, Katie Pritchard, David Rivera and Chaperone Bindy Auvermann.

The students created a drug awareness campaign to coincide with Red Ribbon Week, a national drug awareness week in which supporters wear red ribbons and promote drug prevention. Red Ribbon week was held Oct. 23 - 31.

The name of the campaign was “StA hI on Lyf...Not on Drugs!”

“We are planning to get school administrators permission to post posters of the effects of drugs all over the school in ‘text’ language, create some PSA’s and post little drug facts in our ‘Flush Facts,’ which are posted in the bathrooms.  We are hoping to achieve a lower rate of students in our community using drugs and to prevent students from starting,” said Rose Samples, a Youth Summit delegate.

During the Summit, attendees listened to a variety of speakers, including Jerry Griffin, executive director of the Association of County Commissioners of Georgia, Ashley Hosey, assistant principle at Kennesaw Mountain High School, Robert Galen, associate dean and professor at UGA College of Public Health and Jimmy Williamson, UGA Chief of Police. 

“The most influential thing that Mr. Griffin said was you’ve got to get involved before you can learn,” said Samples. 

The health statistics that were shared at the Youth Summit also influenced the students about their decision to promote drug awareness.

“Dr. Galen said that health is about the complete physical, mental and social well being.  He also said that Georgia is ranked 40th in health out of 50 states,” said Samples.  

The other speakers spoke on how to stay safe, the importance of education, the devastating consequences of abusing alcohol and drugs, and called on students to be “warriors” of the ideals they believe in.

Samples was most inspired by Hosey’s speech on being a warrior.

These Dawson County High School students took the Youth Summit’s message to heart and have pledged to become warriors against drugs in their community.