Teen accidents, as a result of destructive decisions made by young people, are all too common in news reports.  Pepperell High School is seeking to raise the awareness of students to the consequences of their decisions.  Bob Anastas and Alan Brown, two leaders in the battle to raise awareness among teens and the community will visit the school on October 24, 2007 at 1:45 P.M. to address students in the school auditorium.   The program is sponsored by the PHS student organization SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions.)

Bob Anastas (the founder and former executive director of Students Against Driving Drunk-SADD) has risen to national prominence as a speaker, educator and author. Anastas faced a tragedy in the summer of 1981 that profoundly changed the course of his life. Within four days, two star athletes in the community where he was teaching were killed in separate drunk driving crashes. Their deaths prompted Anastas to start a new health program at the school.  Anastas quickly recognized that the typical approach - reciting powerful statistics on the consequences of underage drinking and drunk driving-was not getting through. The students already knew the facts, but were still making illegal and risky choices.  Out of frustration, Anastas turned to the students themselves for help. Together, Anastas and the students developed the concept that would become SADD, or Students Against Driving Drunk.  Today, recognizing that students face many other challenges and decisions beyond underage drinking and drunk driving, he has initiated a new program that has evolved into the broader subject of responsible decision-making.  Anastas’ program, "Check In To A Winning Life," brings both parents and students a timely, motivational message on how young people can develop responsible attitudes and make smart choices.  

Alan Brown, a Georgia parent, has also turned tragedy into triumph.  He returned teen driver’s education to Georgia families.  Two years ago Brown lost his son, Joshua, in crash that he and his wife, LuGina, felt could have been avoided with drivers training.  The Browns formed the Joshua Brown Foundation to address this need in our state.  Understanding that many communities lacked the availability and funding, Brown authored Joshua’s Law that was overwhelmingly passed in the 2005 Georgia General Assembly.  The law requires any teen wishing to drive before the age of 17 to complete a driver’s education program.   

Pepperell High School teacher and SADD advisor, Alana Ellenburg hopes that this student sponsored discussion will make a difference in the lives of Pepperell area teens.  She said, “Mr. Anastas and Mr. Brown bring a timely and motivational message to both parents and students on how young people can develop responsible attitudes and make smart choices in the many challenges they face in life.”

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alana Ellenburg, Advisor
SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions)
Pepperell High School Chapter
706-236-1844