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January-February 2017 Issue 35

In This Issue

Pitt County SADD

Chapter of the Year

Champion for Success

Union County Early College

#enddrunkdriving

SAB Member at School Board

Mr. West J Pageant

Miss Eastern North Carolina

Chapter Registration

2017 SADD Calendar

Ideas? Questions? Concerns?

Contact

Harriett Southerland

919 807-4408

hsoutherland@ncsadd.org

Visit NC SADD. www.ncsadd.org

Facebook: ncsadd

Twitter: @SADDNC

SADD National www.sadd.org

www.ncsadd.org

PITT IMPLEMENTS SADD COUNTYWIDE

Sue Anne Fipps and Jennifer Wobbleton of Pitt

County are working with the SADD state coordina-

tor to establish SADD chapters in all Pitt County

middle schools and high schools. Not only will this

strengthen the SADD network in our state, it in-

creases the number of young people working to

help their peers practice positive, healthy behavior

in regards to alcohol and other substance use, highway safety, and a multitude of

other issues with which young people contend.

Fipps is program manager for the Eastern Carolina Injury Prevention Program

(ECIPP) at Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, and executive director of Safe

Communities Coalition of Pitt County. Wobbleton is an

ECIPP program coordinator. They initially set out to

establish SADD chapters in the county’s high schools.

After extensive research, it was evident that the pro-

gram was needed well before students reached high

school, and the decision was made to bring middle

schools on board. Explaining why she feels SADD is

necessary to Pitt County youth, Fipps said, “After stud-

ying data from our hospital trauma registry and the

school system, all arrows pointed in the same scary

direction: Substance abuse is at the root of so many of

the destructive decisions that teenagers are making.”

Fipps and Wobbleton have been working with the

school system and principals to ensure the success of

the program. “There will be two county coordinators;

one for middle schools, and one for high schools.

Principals have been asked for their assistance in se-

lecting a suitable advisor who will then select the stu-

dents to be peer leaders in each school,” said Fipps.

An important component of the Pitt County SADD pro-

gram will be quarterly meetings of high school and

middle school SADD members in a Big Sister-Brother/

Little Sister-Brother type experience.

Fipps said the objective of the SADD program in Pitt

County will be to engender “stronger peer-to-peer re-

lationships; a stronger alignment between youth who do not want to participate in

destructive decisions, ultimately decreasing peer pressure and the ability to ward

off destructive behaviors; increased confidence, less fear and anxiety related to

entering high school; and an increased sense of caring for the ‘whole child,’ lead-

ing to better grades and academic growth.” The Pitt County SADD program’s out-

Sue Anne Fipps

Jennifer Wobbleton

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comes, activities and indicators will be evaluated to

determine the effectiveness of the program.

In the effort to launch SADD in Pitt County, ECIPP

and Safe Communities Coalition of Pitt County have

partnered with the Pitt County Coalition on Substance

Abuse, Eastern NC Stop Human Trafficking Now, RE-

AL Crisis, the Center for Family Violence Prevention,

Integrated Therapy, Eastern Mediation Center, Tril-

lium, the Pitt County Health Department, Mothers

Against Drunk Driving, the Pitt County Sheriff’s De-

partment, the Greenville Police Department, Pitt

County Schools, Pitt County School Health Nurses,

PORT Health Services, and Mental Health America.

NC SADD is excited about the heroic efforts being

made by Fipps and Wobbleton in Pitt County. We

look forward to working together to make Pitt and all

our counties places where young people support

each other in becoming healthier and wiser citizens.

Union County Early College in Monroe has joined

our SADD family. Advisor Taletha Reyes got her

chapter off to a successful start by registering with the

national office and immediately searching for projects

and activities. After the first meeting, Reyes reported,

“Today we had our SADD Club meeting, and the stu-

dents are excited about making plans for the Spring

semester.” The chapter is already planning to attend

the conference in November. “My students have

asked about the Fall SADD Conference,” she said.

“They are very interested in attending.” When asked

why it was so important to her that her school has a

SADD chapter, Reyes replied, “I wanted to start and

advise a SADD Club to help give students in my

school the opportunity to be leaders among their

peers and to address concerns that many students

face when making decisions as high school students.

Be sure to reach out to this new advisor at

(Taletha.Reyes@ucps.k12.nc.us) to offer your en-

couragement and support. Go Cyclones!

Note: The 2017 NC SADD Conference is scheduled for

November 17-19. Location TBD. Start planning now!

A CHAMPION FOR SUCCESS

The NC Department of Public Instruction Collabora-

tive Conference for Student Achievement (CCSA) has

announced that Amanda Fish-

er, West Johnston High School

SADD advisor, will receive a

Champion for Success Teacher

Award. A teacher who receives

this honor must be an individual

who guides students to reach

their full potential by demon-

strating support for educational excellence, encourag-

ing students to learn and enjoy their learning, and en-

gaging students’ interests. They must be instructional

leaders who provide inspiration and support, mentor

students and staff, and place students’ needs first.

They are teachers who positively influence the school

community, participate in various aspects of the

school, and actively contribute to the larger communi-

ty. The recipient must be an excellent communicator

who articulates ideas for students, communicates of-

ten and effectively with parents and staff, and advo-

cates for the school and district.

Fisher will receive the award at the annual CCSA in

Greensboro on March 22, 2017. NC SADD congratu-

lates Fisher on her achievement. Go Wildcats!

#ENDDRUNKDRIVING

Kevin London, of #enddrunkdriving, is offering his as-

sistance to schools for prom and graduation safety

programs. Kevin lost his two daughters in a speed

and alcohol related crash when the vehicle in which

they were passengers left the road, struck an em-

bankment, and crashed into a tree.

London said, “It's my

hope that by sharing Taylor and Meredith's story it

encourages parents to engage in conversations about

underage drinking with their children and teens. I also

Amanda Fisher

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want teens and adults to lose the mentality of “it hap-

pens to someone else.” I was that parent that thought

it happened to others and never thought I would get

that knock at the door. It's something that doesn't

have to happen when its 100% preventable.”

London has created a #enddrunkdriving truck that he

drives to his presentations. He said, “The shoes you

see [beside the truck] are the actual shoes worn by

my girls. Once full of life, now they're empty. A void

forever in my life from underage drunk and drugged

driving.” He also displays a crashed car that he uses

for speeding awareness. The car bears the message:

Hello, my name is Jared Crumpler (age 16). On De-

cember 10, 2014, on the way home, I made a bad

choice that could have cost me my life. I decided to

take a curve doing about 90 mph, being young and

dumb. I ran off the road, overcorrected, hit an oak

tree, and the impact split my car in half. I was thrown

through the car, with my head hitting the same tree.

That was the last thing I remember. I ended up with a

severe concussion, broken collar bone, and a bruised

spleen. One bad choice could have ended my life or

landed me in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. I am

thankful to God I am still alive, and I am looking for-

ward to the future with a sense of gratefulness.

London said, “The car is more than something to look

at. It's the actual car this young man was speeding in

and wrecked. He was so lucky to survive and is

scared to talk about it to this day because of the anxi-

ety it brings on.” London said his primary goal is to

educate teens and adults to make good choices

when it comes to getting behind the wheel of a vehi-

cle. “So many people think it will never happen to

them, just as I thought.”

To have Kevin London participate in your program,

contact him at kevwlon@yahoo.com. Be sure to fol-

low #enddrunkdriving on Twitter.

ADDITIONAL PROGRAM RESOURCES

Many chapters are planning prom safety projects.

Additional highway safety/underage drinking preven-

tion presenters are:

Peggy and Josh Bennett, 704-405-4582 http://www.mgclaw.com

Cameron Houser, 828-310-2257

Garrett Prince, 919-605-6184 gprince742@gmail.com

Master Trooper Richard West, 910 347-1751 richard.west@ncdps.gov

StreetSafe, 910-619-2219 joe@streetsafeus.com

WALK LIKE MADD

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving,

(MADD), two in three people will be involved in a

drunk driving crash in their lifetime. Every two

minutes, a person is injured in a drunk driving crash.

Every day in America, 28 people die as a result of

drunk driving crashes. Because of statistics like

these, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) holds

annual walks to raise awareness and funds that help

prevent injuries and deaths caused by impaired driv-

ing. MADD has asked for SADD’s participation to

reach a day of ‘No More Victims.’ National MADD

representative LaRonda Scott said, “We are calling

on SADD chapters to help us in a big way by mobiliz-

ing at your schools. We want you and your school to

join us for Walk Like MADD in Raleigh on Saturday,

June 3, 2017.” If your chapter cannot come to Ra-

leigh on Walk Day, you can host a walk at your

school or form a virtual team. Click here to register

and create your team.

Taylor and Meredith’s shoes with the #enddrunkdriving truck

Jared Crumpler’s car after the crash

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SAB MEMBER VISITS SCHOOL BOARD

Student Advisory Board member Gavin Brundidge of

West Johnston High School was an excellent ambas-

sador for SADD when he recently met with the John-

ston County Board of Education. Gavin told the mem-

bers about the projects and activities the West John-

ston SADD Club is doing for their school. After the

meeting, Gavin thanked the board members for their

time and their continuing support of the program. He

said the members were very interested in what he

had to say. “The Board of Education is interested in

the work we are doing, and they are actively involved

in the our events. Mr. Ronald Johnson, who is on the

school board, was actually one of the judges for our

Mr. West J Pageant,” said Gavin.

NC SADD also expresses appreciation to the mem-

bers of the Johnston County Board of Education for

their support of the SADD program. With such a sup-

portive board, a chapter can’t help but be successful.

MR. WEST J PAGEANT

West Johnston High School SADD/JOCO Teen Driv-

ers and Future Business Leaders of America recently

held their annual Mr. West J Pageant. The pageant is

a much-awaited event that serves a threefold pur-

pose: Promoting good decisions and teen safe driv-

ing, selecting the counterpart to the homecoming

queen, and raising funds. The contestants are select-

ed by their peers, and they represent sports teams

and school clubs. SADD could not have a representa-

tive in the pageant because they were one of the

sponsors; however, Caleb Wynne, one of the Top 5

contestants, happened to be a member of SADD who

represented Soccer.

The evening featured outdoor “Drunk Corn Hole,”—

the Corn Hole game played using goggles that simu-

late impairment, good decisions and teen driving trivia

throughout the pageant, and a “Battle of the Sexes”

game in which the girls and boys in the audience

competed against each other to answer safe driving

questions. The girls won!

NC State University (top) and UNC -Chapel Hill “walk like MADD” in 2016.

Gavin Brundidge (in white shirt) greets Johnston County Board of Education members.

SADD member Caleb Wynne competes for Mr. West J 2017 title.

Photo by Kaitlyn Pendergraph

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The pageant competition categories were Best

Smile, Best Legs, Best Talent. Best Choreography,

Most Dedicated, People's Choice, Most Photogenic

and Mr. Congeniality.

The contestants are selected by their peers, and

they represent sports teams and school clubs. Jalin

Graham, Mr. West J 2017, represented Basketball,

and received $300 for the basketball team.

According to SADD/JOCO Teen Drivers advisor

Amanda, Fisher, Everyone had a wonderful time

and it was the best pageant yet!”

SADD CONFERENCE SPEAKER WINS TITLE

Ashley Underhill, director of Choices for Chase, has

won the title of Miss Eastern North Carolina and will

compete to become Miss North Carolina. Her plat-

form is teen safe driving. Underhill spoke at the

2016 NCSADD conference about her teenage broth-

er, Chase, who lost his life in a racing competition.

She says that the mission of Choices for Chase is to

show that drivers and passengers have choices in a

vehicle that will impact the rest of their lives, and

others, too. “Through raising awareness of the dan-

gers of reckless and distracted driving, we strive to

limit the number of injuries and deaths on the

roads,” she said.

Underhill is a dedicated supporter of SADD, and

SADD was at the pageant to support her efforts. We

congratulate Miss Eastern North Carolina on her

achievement; we thank her for the contributions she

has made to the SADD program; and we wish her

the very best as she pursues her next title.

If you would like Choices for Chase at your school,

contact Ashley Underhill at lawunder@gmail.com.

Be sure to follow Choices for Chase on Twitter.

CHAPTER REGISTRATION

Some advisors are perplexed as to why they can no

longer access resource and activity information at

the www.sadd.org website. Chapter registration is

now required each school term in order to access a

number of SADD program resources, cash prize

contests, and college scholarships. Please register

so you will be able get the resources your chapter

needs. With the new registration system, once you

are registered with the national office, you will simp-

ly need to do an update each year. If you have any

difficulty registering, contact the state coordinator at

hsoutherland@ncsadd.org or 919-807-4400.

Register Now.

Ashley Underhill with (l-r) Amanda Fisher, Martha Diaz and Gavin Brundidge of West

Johnston High School SADD

The new Mr. West J, Jalin Graham, (r) tries on his crown.

Photo by Kaitlyn Pendergraph

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