NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Governor's 8th Safe School Summit to Showcase
Extreme Sports As Deterrent to Underage Drinking
Oklahoma City, February 10, 2007 – Oklahoma youth will learn the benefits of pursuing a “natural high” by participating in extreme sports and avoiding the pitfalls of underage drinking during the Governor's 8th Annual Safe Schools Summit for 2007. The Summit is set for Thursday, March 1, 2007 at the Cox Convention Center in downtown Oklahoma City.
The Annual Safe Schools Summit is Oklahoma's largest educational conference, targeting thousands of students across the state with positive messages and role models, while offering teachers, administrators, law enforcement personnel and community agency partners information, training and programs they can take back to their schools and communities.
The purpose of the Summit is to support and promote programs that foster a safe and drug-free learning environment and that enhance student academic achievement. Each year the Summit has a different focus related to this goal, such as encouraging tobacco-free environments, responsible decision-making, preventing violence, alcohol and drug abuse, and other risky behaviors.
The theme for this year's Summit is the prevention of underage drinking, with an underlying message that extreme sports require a strong body and alert mind, providing a healthier alternative to risky behaviors such as underage drinking. Participants will be engaged by nationally recognized experts who will share information about underage drinking prevention. Topics will focus on positive things young people can do for themselves and others, enabling them to make better choices so they are less likely to abuse alcohol. Speakers will address the dangers of drinking and risky behaviors, along with providing positive ways to handle peer pressure. Exhibitors will also be displaying programs that schools can take back and implement in their communities.
Extreme sports will show participants an exciting and healthy way to gain confidence, build self-esteem and associate fun with prevention. Participants will have the chance to learn more about the world of extreme sports through onsite demonstrations of skateboarding, BMX, Motocross, and in-line skating. Exhibits and extreme sports athletes will also be on hand during the Summit.
Students, teachers, administrators, law enforcement personnel, and community agency partners can go online now and register for the Summit at www.sssok.org. There is no cost to attend the Summit.
The Summit is hosted by Governor Brad Henry, the State Department of Education and the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.
|