PRESTONSBURG - Nearly 2,900 students and 238 adults from 59 schools in 12 counties participated in Operation UNITE’s “Piercing the Darkness of Drugs” Youth Summit held Thursday, Sept. 17, at both The Mountain Arts Center and Prestonsburg High School in Prestonsburg.

The summit featured exciting and motivational programs for youth in grades 4-12, followed by an assembly program where regional UNITE Club of the Year winners were announced.

Clearfield Elementary (Rowan County), Millard Middle (Pike County) and Sheldon Clark High FCA (Martin County) were each named 2009 UNITE Clubs of the Year for the 10-county Big Sandy region for activities during the 2008-09 school year. Whitesburg Middle School (Letcher County) was also recognized as the 2009 Middle School UNITE Club in Prestonsburg because they had been unable to attend the event in Hazard.

UNITE also presented a special recognition award to Marionette Little for her caring and concern for the youth of Pike County and for her tireless efforts in support of Operation UNITE.

“Marionette’s life has centered around children. She is always one of the first to volunteer and solicit involvement from Pike County schools,” said Karen Engle, director of UNITE. “Camp UNITE would not have happened without her assistance in 2007. She continues to be a strong supporter, recruiting participants and making sure everyone who wants to go has transportation.”

More than 7,100 students from 140 schools in 29 counties were expected to attend one of three summits being held this week in Hazard, Somerset and Prestonsburg.

“We are ecstatic about the support from schools across southern and eastern Kentucky for these summits,” Engle said. “This is more than three times the number of youth we anticipated. I think that is a reflection on the need for positive programs and a recognition that changing attitudes and behaviors toward drugs begins with our youth.”

Students attending the summits were treated to an exciting, motivational program filled with positive messages about avoiding peer pressure, becoming leaders in educating classmates and their community about the dangers of drugs, and making positive personal choices.

“Our goal is to empower these students to make drug-free choices in their life,” Engle stated. “In turn, their choices will hopefully influence other family members, their friends, and all those with whom they have contact.”

The primary sponsor for the Youth Summits is EQT Corporation (formerly Equitable Resources, Inc.) which provided a $20,000 grant to make the events possible. Other sponsors include Walmart of Prestonsburg, Flowers Bakery of London, Kentucky National Guard, East Kentucky Beverage Company of Pikeville, Pepsi Cola Bottling of Somerset, Little Caesar’s pizza (Somerset, Hazard and Prestonsburg), the City of Hazard, and the Mountain Arts Center of Prestonsburg.

“Of course, these summits could not occur without dozens of volunteers from throughout the region,” Engle said. “We have 118 volunteers from health departments, school systems, colleges, local UNITE coalitions, businesses, churches, municipal and county governments, social service agencies and local law enforcement agencies supporting the program.”

Special programs were presented by the Lexington-based Remix Education Entertainment and motivational speaker and comedian Matt Bellace from Youth-to-Youth International.

Remix’s high-energy, interactive program targeted to the younger students used hilarious mascot skits, crazy stunts, interactive games and motivational speaking to inform youth about the dangers of drugs as well as how to stand up to peer pressure.

Bellace encouraged older students to pursue “natural highs,” make healthy choices, and learn how to become effective leaders. His presentation demonstrated that there are positive things they can do for themselves and others that will make a lasting difference.

UNITE used the summits to roll out information for the 2009-10 UNITE Clubs. Workshops for new and returning club sponsors provided details on using innovative programs that will energize students and make a positive impact within their school and community.

Each school with a registered UNITE Club can request up to $750 to be used for drug education, mentoring or community service projects during the current school year. In addition, all club members will receive a T-shirt bearing this year’s “Piercing the Darkness of Drugs” theme.

This is the second year UNITE has hosted regional Youth Summits. In August 2007 there were 1,500 students from 89 schools in 24 counties at events held in Somerset and Prestonsburg.

“A one-day event will not, in and of itself, magically solve the deep-rooted problems associated with substance abuse,” Engle noted. “These youth summits are intended to raise awareness of what is possible, and spark an excitement that will be taken back and shared within their schools and communities.”

For more information about Operation UNITE visit their website at www.operationunite.org