Lovingston – Nelson County, Virginia
The Nelson County Rotary Club met recently to recognize Nelson County High School Students and Teachers who participated in the Rotary Youth Leadership and Drug and Alcohol Speech Contest. Parents of Students, Students and Teachers were in attendance. Also attending was Emma Warlaw, Principle, Nelson County High School and Dr. Roger Collins, Superintendent, Nelson County Schools.
Nelson Co. Rotary Chair, John Gurr coordinated the preparation for the above awards. Each year, Teachers and Students are involved in recognizing the outstanding student leaders in the Nelson County High School. The two students who were selected were Samantha Bagbey and Bobby Trey Barnett. Samantha and Trey attended the Rotary Youth Leadership Conference at Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va. December 5-7, 2008. There they had the opportunity to hear speakers on the subject of Leadership. They also had the opportunity to meet other selected students from the Rotary District which extends from Kingsport, Tenn to Winchester, Va.
During the process for the Drug and Alcohol Abuse Contest there were eighty (80) students from Nelson County High School involved. These eighty students were narrowed by the student body down to sixteen (16). Vicki Crawford, Brenda Goad and Jim Raup, Teachers along with three Rotary members were involved in selecting the final three top students. Each student had to give a five (5) minute presentation on Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention. The top three students were, Bradley Carter, third place ($100 bond); Bridgett Viar, second place ($200 bond) and Rachel Johnson, first place $300 bond). Rachel Johnson then went to Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va. on December 5th and presented her speech. The top student selected at Virginia Tech will then go on to the Rotary District Conference in Hot Springs, Va and then on to Charlotte, NC to make their presentation in the Rotary Regional Trials.
The top three students gave their award winning speech at Rotary in Nelson County. Bridgett Viar during her presentation selected a poem called
“Cocaine”, I cause people grief, I cause people pain, you may not know me, my name is cocaine. When I posses you, you’ll steal, cheat, and lie, the crimes you’ll commit just to get high.
You’ll steal from your mom, and lie to your dad, even when they cry you are never sad. I’ll take away your family, your friends, your home, then you won’t have anyone, you’ll be all alone.
I’m warning you this is no game, you’ll be lucky if I don’t drive you insane. Now that I’ve got you, you’ll never be free, at the end you’ll regret ever trying me. Now I’m your master, you are my slave,
I’ll go with you everywhere even to your grave. Now that you’ve met me, what will you do. Will you try me or not, it’s all up to you.
The following awards were presented to the Nelson County Teachers. Vicki Crawford, Teacher was presented an Excellence In Humanity Award for recognition of your generous contribution of time and effort to the success of the Drug & Alcohol Abuse Program. Vicki has been the driving force to involve the prevention of drugs and alcohol in the teaching program in classes in the High School. Brenda Goad and Jim Raup was given Certificates of Appreciation for their participation in the selection progress.
Thanks to Nelson Rotary Club for this information and photo. And, congrats to all of the students!
