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Teens for Healthy Youth Recognition Event 2025-2026

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Invocation from Pastor Lawson

LCAHY Faith-Based CIA & Board Member

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Teens for Healthy Youth is an initiative of the LowCountry Alliance for Healthy Youth (LCAHY).

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Drug-Free Community Grant Recipient

  • LCAHY is a recipient of the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program Grant awarded by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and administered by the CDC. Community Foundation of the LowCountry serves as the fiscal agent.

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Mission

  • The mission of Teens for Healthy Youth (THY) is to promote positive teen health through:

  • Leadership
  • Positive Youth Development
  • Peer to Peer Education
  • Advocacy
  • Community Service

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THY Addresses Related Risk Factors

-depression/suicide

-teen dating violence

-bullying/cyberbullying

-internet safety/social media

-stress/anxiety

-violence

and more

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THY Includes Schools in Bluffton & Hilton Head Island

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THY Projects and Initiatives for the 2025-2026 School Year

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Teens for Healthy Youth Members Served as LCAHY Summer Interns

Abigail Copcutt, Victoria De Armas, Aishling Lewis, and Sarah Lawson

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LCAHY Interns Made Prevention Posters for THY

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LCAHY Interns Made Prevention Posters for THY

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LCAHY Interns Made Prevention Posters for THY

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LCAHY INTERNS LAUNCHED DENTIST INITIATIVE WITH LOCAL DENTISTS

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Teens for Healthy Youth Members Served as LCAHY Interns

Aviana Stevens and Sarah Lawson

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THY Recruits New Members

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THY High School Leaders Recruit Middle School Members

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Mental Set Bulletin Boards

to Promote Positive Thinking

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National Suicide Awareness Month

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THY Promotes Suicide Awareness Month

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National Suicide Awareness Month

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National Suicide Awareness Month

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Suicide Prevention

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THY Promotes Heads Up, Phones Down

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THY BLHS Educate Boys & Girls Club in Prevention Plus Wellness Sport Program

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THY Engage Peers in Day of National Concern for Young People & Gun Violence

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THY Promotes Day of National Concern/Unity Day

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THY Members Accept Town of Bluffton's National Medicine Abuse Awareness Month October 2025

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Town of HHI & Bluffton Smoke-Free & Vape-Free Awareness Month November Proclamation

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THY Educate the Community During Safety Spooktacular

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THY Educate the Community During Bluffton High Trunk-or-Treat

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THY Educate the Community During May River High Trunk-or-Treat

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THY Promotes Red Ribbon Week

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Red Ribbon Week

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Red Ribbon Week

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Red Ribbon Week

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Red Ribbon Week

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Candy Boo Grams

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Bullying Prevention Month

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Bullying Prevention Month

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Bullying Prevention Month

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Skits to Prevent Bullying

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THY Promotes A Culture of Kindness During Bullying Prevention Month

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THY Staff Informational Table During Rising 8th Grader Tours

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THY Educate Teens at Boy and Girls Club in Prevention Plus Wellness

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Children’s Abuse Prevention Agency

Angel Tree Christmas Project

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THY Address Stress During Final Exam and Holiday Season

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THY Engaged Their Peers in Random Acts of Kindness Month

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THY Engaged Their Peers in Random Acts of Kindness Month

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THY Engaged Their Peers in Random Acts of Kindness Month

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THY Engaged Their Peers in Random Acts of Kindness Month

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THY Engaged Their Peers in Random Acts of Kindness Month

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THY Engaged Their Peers in Random Acts of Kindness Month

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Multiple Schools Recognized as National Kindness School

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Teen Dating Violence Awareness

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National Drug And Alcohol Facts Week

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National Drug And Alcohol Facts Week

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National Drug And Alcohol Facts Week

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HH Market Event

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Educating During Prom & Alcohol Awareness Month

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Educating During Prom & Alcohol Awareness Month

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Presentation of Recognition Certificates by THY Advisors

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LCAHY Thanks all of our THY Advisors for Their Efforts

Bluffton High-Laura Pirkey

Brandon Sligh

Cross-Wendy Cummings

Grey Yeager

HHCA-Megan Robbins

Lauren Borack

HHIHS- Jennifer Weitekamper

Laura Fuller

MRHS- Dr. Pearl Mitchell

Gail Bradford

Bluffton Middle- Tiffany King

Laura Van Houten

HHPrep- Jessica Hunt

McCracken- Emerald Bowen

River Ridge- Laura Schranz & Lindsey Lingberg

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Congratulatory Speech by Aviana Stevens, Youth Sector Representative

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Recognition of Youth Coalition Involvement Agreement (CIA)

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LCAHY Outstanding Senior Service Award Criteria

-Demonstrates active participation in multiple THY and LCAHY activities for at least two years, showing leadership and initiative

-Clearly articulates and exemplifies a strong commitment to promoting positive teen health through personal actions and leadership within the community.

-Includes two letters of recommendation with at least one from the THY Advisor

-Complete application on time and include all required components.

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PRESENTATION OF LCAHY Outstanding Senior Service Awards

Aviana Stevens, Bluffton High THY

Claudia Barrientos, Bluffton High THY

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NEW-DR. LORETTA NOVINCE AWARD

-Awarded to a THY member who shows

1: Commitment

2: Passion

3. Impact

4. Leadership

5. Community Vision

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NEW-DR. LORETTA NOVINCE AWARD

2025-2026

Awarded to Isabella Carbone,

THY member Cross Schools

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A BIG THANK YOU TO OUR 2026 SELECTION COMMITTE

-Erin Pawlak, LCAHY Board member representing the Health Sector

-Cara Vercellone, LCAHY Board member representing the Civic Organization Sector

-Francine Tobin, LCAHY Board Member representing the Government Sector

-Sgt. Washington, LCAHY board member representing the Law Enforcement Sector

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10 years of THY!

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We Need You!

We are currently looking for a parent sector representative to the LCAHY Board and Youth Serving Organization Representative.

This individual is connected with parents, shares LCAHY resources with parents, & attends one board meeting once a month.

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LowCountry Alliance for Healthy Youth Applauds

Teens for Healthy Youth!

Joy Nelson-Media Sector Representative