 |
| L-r: Chancellor Williams, Dr. Burke, Lt. Gen. Honore |
 |
| Dr. Truth, gives keynote address to youth |
 |
| Byron Starks interacts with youth after speaking |
 |
| Isiah Marshall, St. Martinville Jr. High School |
 |
| Mystique Dufort, Catahoula Elementary School |
 |
| Shalyric Self, singer, songwriter |
Baton
Rouge, LA – On September 11, 2014, the Southern University Ag Center welcomed
students, faculty and staff from schools in Acadia, Allen, Avoyelles,
Evangeline, Lafayette, Pointe Coupee, St. Landry, St. Martin and Vermillion
Parishes to its 14th Back-to-School Summit for 8th
graders at the Blackham Coliseum in Lafayette. The event themed “Healthy
Actions Produce Positive Youth” had Danna Andrus "Dr. Truth" serving
as Keynote speaker. Special appearances
featured Cadet Cody LeBlanc, ULL Army, for the Presentation of Colors, and speech
by Lt. Gen. Russell Honore (Retired), United States Army, in commemoration of
911. Speakers included Byron Starks,
Coach and Mentor, and Den Hussey, Motivational Speaker/MC. Shalyric Self
provided entertainment. Also prominent
were Senator Elbert Guillory, LA State District 24; and Chancellor Leodrey
Williams, SU Ag Center, with welcome greetings.
Isiah
Marshall, 8th grader from St. Martinville Junior High said he was
happy for the opportunity to be there, and his take home message was to develop
self-confidence, have a goal and stick to it.
“My
brother is now in high school, and he told me about it because he attended in 8th
grade,” Isiah said.
Mystique
Dufort, 8th grader from Catahoula Elementary School said the main
lesson she took home from the summit was to believe in herself and not get
misled by peers.
The
event was covered by the Lafayette Advertiser
and can be accessed by following this link.
Nearly
three thousand student attendees received informational brochures along with
school supplies from various agencies while learning from motivational speakers
and video presentations. Topics of
discussion included a wide range of healthy living tips, from sexual conduct to
drug abuse. The goal of the program is to give young people health alternative
choices in life. The program targets eighth-graders because they are on the
edge of becoming teenagers. Also in attendance were participating agencies and
programs from surrounding parishes to show their support.
This
annual summit is organized by the Southwest Center for Rural Initiatives, the
satellite arm of the Southern University Agricultural Research and Extension
Center, under the leadership of Dr. Wanda Burke who can be reached at 225-771-5184 or (337) 943-2410; via email at wanda_burke@suagcenter.com
###
Contact:
Bridget Udoh
(225) 771-5714
No comments:
Post a Comment