Contact: Jennifer Millette
877-SADD-INC (toll-free)
207-233-5398 (cell)
jmillette@sadd.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SADD Announces 2006-2007 National Student of the Year
Students Against Destructive Decisions Chooses Florida
Teenager to Represent Organization Nationally

Marlborough, MA, April 27, 2006 – SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), the national school-based peer-to-peer education and prevention organization, today announced that Daniel Vocelle of Vero Beach, Florida, has been named 2006-2007 SADD National Student of the Year. Vocelle will be the national student spokesperson for the organization, which has more than 10,000 chapters and hundreds of thousands of active participants in schools nationwide.

"I’m excited about the chance to make a difference and influence teens across the nation to make better life choices," Vocelle said. "As Student of the Year, I would like to take a stronger stand against adult-sponsored alcohol parties, put a stop to the mass media’s negative influence on teens, and spark a greater interest in SADD across the nation."

A senior at Sebastian River High School, Vocelle has been a dedicated SADD student for four years and has served as president of his chapter for the past two years. He has been instrumental in staging mock DUI crashes and spreading SADD’s "No Use" message. Under his leadership, his SADD chapter used footage from last year’s mock crash to create a public service announcement, which was aired across the state and on MTV and VH1. In January, Vocelle was named FLORIDA SADD Student of the Year for his outstanding achievements. Now he’ll be helping SADD at the national level.

"Daniel has been an exceptional spokesperson for SADD in Florida, working tirelessly to ensure that teens are fully aware of the perils of underage drinking and other drug use," said Penny Wells, president and executive director of SADD. "Being chosen SADD National Student of the Year is a great honor and a natural progression for him. We are sure he will thrive as a leader, an educator, and an important voice and advocate for teens nationwide."

Student of the Year responsibilities include publicly addressing issues affecting teens, serving a one-year term on SADD’s National Board of Directors, and leading ten extraordinary youth leaders who comprise this year’s SADD National Student Leadership Council (SLC). The SLC advises the SADD National Board of Directors on policies and programs, plans and implements the SADD annual national conference, and serves as a national and regional student representation network. Vocelle will begin his term as the SADD National Student of the Year during SADD’s conference in Boston in July, which will also launch the organization’s 25th anniversary celebration.

"Daniel has embraced SADD as more than just a school club. For him, it’s an actual lifestyle where his positive light can shine and be an inspiration to others," stated Verl Todd, Florida’s SADD state coordinator. "He understands his peers and realizes the pressures they are under every day. He knows firsthand that it is rough sometimes being a young person, but he also knows that it takes work and being true to yourself to overcome life’s obstacles," Todd added.

SADD is a national student-based organization with chapters in thousands of middle schools, high schools, and colleges across the country. Its mission is to provide students with youth education, prevention and activism tools to effectively address issues such as underage drinking, other drug use, impaired driving, teen violence, and suicide. More information about SADD can be found at www.sadd.org.

###

Back to top