VOICES Wraps Up a Successful First Year

students have been speaking loudly on crucial issues this year, such as bullying and drunk driving, as part of the VOICES program, a student group dedicated to youth concerns.

The program, which is wrapping up its first year, will be partially funded next year with an Office of Policy and Management (OPM) grant amounting to $10,000, which was recently awarded to Tolland Youth Services.

Youth Services Coordinator Nancy Dunn said the funds will support the portions of the program in which students work with resident troopers.

She said that the program had a very successful first year, which included campaigns against bullying and drunk driving.

"I was amazed to see so many of the VOICES youth who were interested in working on alcohol awareness, so obviously it's an issue that they recognize is important not just for youth, but also for adults in the community," Dunn said. 

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The students made up car stickers with the slogan "One is Too Many." Students also handed out pledges to approximately 500 people who vowed to not drink and drive (or to not get in the car with a drunk driver), and handed out wristbands to students the week before prom.

"It's something that's needed in our school," said sophomore Kaitlyn Leibowitz as VOICES students handed out pledges and recycled bottles at a Project Graduation event.

"We hear: 'It's such a small town that there's not much else to do,'" added junior Taylor Coutant.

The latest data on Tolland youth suggests that alcohol abuse education is needed.

According to the June 2010 ERASE  (East of the River Action for Substance Abuse Elimination, Inc.) survey posted on the Tolland Board of Education Web site, 50 percent of 11th graders and 58.7 percent of 12thgraders said they had used alcohol in the past month. Of those students, 37.8 percent of 11thgraders and 49.1 percent of 12th graders admitted to binge drinking in the past month. For purposes of the survey, binge drinking is defined as having four or more drinks at a single occasion.

VOICES will continue its important campaign against the issue until the end of the year, when the group will begin discussing what concerns students should focus on next year. Dunn said that distracted driving is a top contender.

But until September and another busy school year roll around again, VOICES students can take a restful summer break knowing that they've helped make Tolland a safer, better educated town for both adults and their peers.

Check out how .