Hiram visit focuses on decisions for Jackson-Milton students

Staff report

NORTH JACKSON

Jackson-Milton High School’s junior class attended an emotional event at Hiram College.

The None 4 Under 21 event focuses on teenage choices and decisions that have ended with tragic results and fatalities. The program is designed for high-school students and creates real-life situations and consequences in mock settings.

None 4 Under 21 is a demonstration for high-school students to show them the consequences of drunken driving, texting while driving and the impact it has on the lives of the drivers, victims and their families.

The parking lot of Martin Fieldhouse was transformed into a realistic crash site, showing firefighters and EMS crews working to save the victims in the crash.

The students then entered the fieldhouse where they listened to testimonials from three speakers. The first was Marc Stream, a father who lost his 14-year-old son in an alcohol-related crash. The second was an Ohio inmate serving a six-year prison sentence for aggravated vehicular homicide.

Finally, they heard from Aaron Cooksey, who became an alcohol awareness speaker after killing his best friend in an alcohol-related crash.

“I always understood the dangers of drinking and driving, but this was the first time that it really hit me from seeing people who were just like me make mistakes that changed their lives forever,” said Katie Matasy, a junior.

The students then took “The Walk of Remembrance.”

They walked down a narrow hallway and came face-to-face with 11 families whose loved ones died in an alcohol-related tragedy.

“Seeing all of those parents made it so real, and seeing the pain that they still feel, no matter how long it has been, was really hard to do,” said Tiffany Voland, a junior. “It really makes you think that one decision you make can ruin an entire family.”

As part of the event, Elk & Elk sponsored a contest that encouraged students to create a poster with a positive message related to the event. The winning school district would receive a check for $1,500 to be used for an alcohol-free prom or graduation activities. The winner was Journey Morris, a Jackson-Milton junior, who is an aspiring art major.