Jackson Middle School receives check for students' high pledge rates to be alcohol-free

SPRINGFIELD, MO. -- Fifty-six percent of students at Jackson Middle School signed a pledge this spring to not drink alcohol before they turn 21. Safe and Sober, a nonprofit founded in 2004, rewarded Jackson Middle School and its students this week for their participation in the program by giving them a check for $500.

Safe and Sober is funded by a grant from the Missouri Department of Transportation and private donations. The free program provided pledge cards and dynamic video content depicting reasons to abstain from underage drinking. One incentive for schools to participate in the 2014 program was a check reward for the schools with the highest pledge rates -- both in division and overall categories.

"Our students benefited from the program because the videos hit home with a lot of them and helped them to think about how quickly one wrong choice could affect not just their own lives, but the lives of those around them as well," Lori Kayser, sixth grade counselor, said.

Even though many of the participating Safe and Sober schools are high schools, Jackson Middle School decided to get involved as well. The administration wanted to participate in the program so they could begin to educate the students about the dangers of underage drinking.

"It is never too early to start this education, especially at this time in our students' lives when they are just beginning to have to make some tough choices that could affect the rest of their lives," Kayser said.

Safe and Sober is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating Missouri high school and middle school students and parents on the dangers of underage drinking and drinking and driving. For more information call 417-890-6677 or visit missourisafeandsober.com.

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