CAMP HUMPHREYS, Republic of Korea -- Humphreys Middle and High school students recognized some of their own during the closing ceremony of Red Ribbon Week on Tuesday, Nov. 8 in the Humphreys High School Auditorium.
Classes from the middle and high school performed skits during the week's activities, collected pledges from students, wore red, experienced the effects of wearing "drunk goggles" and competed in trivia contests to determine the winners.
Yeritza Nocera, an Army Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator here, who helped to plan the week's activities, said they wanted to do something different this year to help convey the messages of Red Ribbon Week.
"We have been working since the summer, brainstorming on activities to do this differently than the regular assembly where they sit down and death by power point," Nocera said.
Young Hee, Yoo, an Adolescent Support and Counseling Service counselor said it was great to have both schools work together this year.
"This is the first year we have middle and high school separate with two principals, so I think it was great to have both schools come together for the Red Ribbon activities. Ms. (Maria) Buchwald and Ms. (Shelly) Kennedy, the principals, worked together with everyone involved," Yoo said.
David Jones, a 6th grader at Humphreys Middle School said his favorite part of Red Ribbon Week was performing the skits.
"We got to do skits, it was fun doing it and how we were able to do all of these different activities," Jones said.
Aislinn Pitts, another 6th grader was excited about her part in the skit.
"I was one of the main characters!"
For the winning senior class it was about the team work and coming together.
"During the assembly we won the most games and also got the most questions right about the information we had learned, so that is what went into our winning" said Garrett Taylor, Senior Class President.
For the middle school, the sixth grade class received the certificate and a pizza lunch, while the senior class was the winner for the high school. The Parent Teacher Organization donated Pizza lunch.
While the activities we designed to be fun and engaging the message was a serious one.
Mackenzie Jordan Comeaux, 6th Grade Class President holds a personal connection.
"My uncle, he happened to be taking drugs and died before I was born," Comeaux said. "I was named after him, my uncle Jordan."
Since its beginning in 1985, the Red Ribbon has touched the lives of millions of people around the world. In response to the torture and murder of Drug Enforcement Administration Agent Enrique Kiki Camarena, angered parents and youth in communities across the country began wearing Red Ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to raise awareness of the killing and destruction cause by drugs in America.
Camarena was killed in Mexico in 1985.
Nocera said it's never too early to teach kids about the harmful substances that can impair their development.
Yoo offered a final thought.
"The best protective factor for young people is connectedness, whether it's at home or at school. We, at Humphreys schools, students seem happy and do well thanks to the bond that we cultivate among students and everyone. If you as parent ever need a resource for you or your child, please feel free to contact me," Yoo said. Her phone number is 754-9442.
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