KHS hosts 'Death Becomes You'

Before the school year ended, Kennett High School 2008 graduate George Panousis, left, with the Grim Reaper, right, participated in a prevention program known as " Death Becomes You…When You Make Bad Decisions," which helped local high school students see what consequences follow drinking and driving. [Click to enlarge]

On May 6, 2008 Kennett High School hosted the "Death Becomes You… When You Make Bad Decisions" program created by the staff of the Regional Support Center at Family Counseling Center.

The FCC sponsored event is a prevention program that uses a shock factor to persuade youth not to use alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs.

Throughout the day, 22 students met the grim reaper and learned that they had died due to a bad decision they or one of their friends had made. The students then painted their faces as a visual representation of their death.

Participants were given a death scenario to wear throughout the day for other students to read.

Since the students were now "deceased" they were no longer allowed to speak with other students. At the end of the day the entire student body met in the auditorium for an assembly.

At the assembly, Counselor Christi Huffstutler opened by sharing a story about one of her friends that was killed in an accident that occurred due to a bad decision.

In her address to the students, Huffstutler made the point that life altering consequences caused by drinking and driving can happen to anyone and that the purpose of the program was to bring the reality of the severe costs that the decisions youth and their friends make can have on their lives.

Following Huffstutler's opening remarks, students that participated in the program, escorted by the grim reaper, read their death scenarios to the student body. While stories were shared among the students, the entire auditorium was silent as students learned of the death of classmates and the bad choices that had been made.

To end the assembly Principal Ed Siebenhuener addressed the student body.

Siebenhuener told each and every student how important they were to him, as well as other teachers, their families and friends. He also informed the students that although the program was hypothetical, in reality at least 22 youth die every day of a bad decision.

The KHS principal also reminded students that "as seen in the stories," youth and adults have the choice to make decisions, and he encouraged them to make the right ones.

The Regional Support Center at Family Counseling Center also has a Death Becomes You… When You Make Bad Decisions program for Middle School age youth. If your school or organization is interested in hosting this program please contact Jessica Howard or Jill Rickman at (573) 888-5925 ext. 215.

Participants in the KHS program included Taylor Wake, Meredith Combs, Hope Sparks, Jodi Vancil, Edson Villelea, Brianna Burcham, Alexandra Brown, Payte Harris, Randy Blankenship, Whitney Burdin, George Panousis, Nicholas Jain, Andy Sherrod, Brian "Bo" Hardwick, Hanna Bilinski, Brooke Ellis, Thomas Stillman, Hampton Deck, Michael Nadler, Jason Raspberry, Monica Davis, and Katie Briscoe.