Recently, the Stafford Technical Center SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions) Chapter was recognized with two awards, one from the Vermont State SADD Organization, and one from the national SADD organization. The first award, was given to the chapter at the Vermont SADD spring meeting, recognized the Stafford Chapter’s collaboration with three local SADD chapters from Proctor High School, Fair Haven Union High School, and black River High School, as well as the partnership with Rutland County START, a law enforcement collaborative aimed at reducing underage drinking, and Rutland Area Prevention Coalition, the county’s community anti-drug coalition.
Stafford’s chapter was also lauded for the variety of programs that it has undertaken which are designed to promote healthy lifestyles and responsible highway usage, as well as those designed to reduce destructive behaviors among teens such as underage drinking and drugging, and dangerous internet use. The chapter’s efforts to make the community aware of their actions were also noted.
The June issue of the SADDvocate, the national SADD monthly newsletter, has chosen the Stafford Chapter as this month’s spotlight chapter. There are about 10,000 SADD chapters in the United States, so to be chosen to be a chapter worthy of being a model for other chapters is quite an honor. The national magazine highlighted a variety of the chapter’s programs designed to positively impact the community, and the fact that this chapter was the recipient of a 2009 Vermont Governor’s Award for Outstanding Community Service.
The Stafford Technical Center SADD Chapter has been in existence for four years. The 2008-2009 members are: Kayla Jones, Cantlin Eaton, Erika Stocker, Angelica Towsley, and Nate Hance from Mill River Union High School, Vicky Stone, Cody Hesse, Cody Taylor, and Justin Cram from Otter Valley Union High School, Ashley Barnes, Ashley Haas, and Dan Ball from Rutland High School, Joanna Lilly from Poultney High School, and Jon Schaff from Fair Haven Union High School.