2005-06 Student of the Year
Jessica
Ann Billings
Academy of Holy Angels
Richfield, Minnesota
Jessica Billings is the SADD National Student of the Year! She is a senior
at the Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield, Minnesota. Jessica has served
as an Executive Committee member of the SADD National Student Leadership Council
since 2004. In 2002, she was one of three founding members of her chapter
and led her chapter in its first ever Grim Reaper Day. She is now her chapter’s
president. Jessica also worked diligently on several seat belt safety initiatives,
which included a Seat Belt Challenge, public address messages, signs, and
a music video with a SADD message, which she co-produced. She was also instrumental
in creating monthly themed campaigns at her school, including Integrity Month,
Safe Dating Month, and Make a New Friend Month.
At her school, Jessica is involved in many service activities and organizations,
including Students Assisting Students, a group for which she is currently
serving as president. Jessica also serves her school on the ministry team,
admissions team, and diversity team. She is an active athlete as a member
of the track, cross country and dance line teams. Jessica puts her academic
skills to work as a member of the varsity speech team and the knowledge bowl.
In 2001, Jessica was given the honor of being the youngest voting Human Rights
Commissioner in Minnesota for the City of Bloomington, a position she continues
to hold. In her community, she also founded Dare to Be Different, a program
designed to educate youth about diversity. Jessica donates much of her time
to the Minnesota Autism Society as a team coordinator and workshop presenter.
She is also a PACER "Count Me In" puppeteer in a program designed
to educate younger children about disabilities.
Jessica’s hard work and determination to make her community a better
place have earned her many awards, including the City of Bloomington’s
Outstanding Youth Award, recognition from the Time Warner broadcast company,
and a distinguished honoree nomination to the Wall of Tolerance. Jessica is
also an Honor Roll student.
Executive
Committee
Travis
Helmondollar
Montcalm
High School
Montcalm, West Virginia
Travis Helmondollar is a senior at Montcalm High School in West Virginia.
He has been a member of the SADD National Student Leadership Council since
2004 and is a member of this year’s SLC Executive Committee. Travis has
been an active participant in the SLC’s work, including the planning
for the 2005 SADD National Conference. He served as his SADD chapter president
for four years and as treasurer for two years. In those roles, Travis led
Kick Butts Day, directed Prom Promise, and coordinated his school’s elementary
SADD programs multiple times. He was active in Destructive Decisions Week
during the past two years, and he also participated in a Tobacco Free Day
in the state’s capital.
On the state level, Travis designed, published, and currently updates the
West Virginia SADD Web site, www.wvsadd.org. He has worked on several initiatives,
including plans to visit middle schools and high schools to promote SADD statewide.
At his school, Travis served in many leadership positions, including terms
as student council president, treasurer, and vice president. He is a member
of the Montcalm High School marching and concert bands. Travis served two
terms as the president of the Robotics Club and Spelunking Club. He also participated
in Chess Club activities. In his junior year, Travis was the General Talk
editor for his school newspaper. He also served as a member of the Principal’s
Leadership Committee.
Travis has been an active participant in leadership outside of his school
as well. He has worked with Project Y.E.S. and with Creating Opportunities
for Youth, serving as a Mercer County Student Leader and member of the youth
advisory board. Travis is also a member of Classic Upward Bound, and he received
the organization’s leadership award in 2004.
His successful involvement in leadership endeavors has been highlighted by
the many accolades he has received, including the President’s Golden
Community Service Award. At the county level, Travis has been named to the
all-county band, choir, and, at the state level, Travis has been named to
the all state choir. He has received numerous academic honors, including national
science, English, history, mathematics and honor roll awards, and he has received
several Concord University academic awards.
Travis volunteers his time to the community through his local Veterans of
Foreign Wars post and the East River Mountain Town Band.
Executive Committee
Bryant
Laiche
West Feliciana High School
St. Francisville, Louisiana
Bryant Laiche is the Louisiana SADD Student of the Year. He is a senior at
West Feliciana High School in St. Francisville, Louisiana, and is the founder
and president of his school’s SADD chapter. His work for his chapter
has led to a leadership role as a Louisiana SADD Youth Advisory Council Member.
He has presented workshops at the Louisiana Taking Action Youth Conference
for the past four years and at the SADD National Conference. He has also facilitated
the Louisiana Youth Summit to Prevent Underage Drinking, Courage to Live Training,
and the Louisiana Steps (Students and Teachers Experiencing Progress in Safety).
In addition to his work with SADD, Bryant is involved in academic and athletic
activities at his school. He is a varsity cheerleader, a member of the Student
Government Association, and the Communication Officer for the Interact Club.
Bryant has been an honor roll student in each of his three years at West Feliciana
High School.
Bryant demonstrates his leadership qualities though his involvement in various
activities. Each year he organizes homecoming prevention activities, the suicide
prevention campaign, and the Christmas/New Year’s campaign. He is a member
of the Title-4 Safe and Drug-Free Schools Committee for his parish, the Louisiana
Partners in Prevention Advisory Council, the community choir, and the 4-H
Junior Leaders. He has assisted in the drafting of the Louisiana Comprehensive
Prevention Plan and attended legislative committee meetings. Each year Bryant
volunteers his time to the St. Francisville’s Annual Audubon Pilgrimage
Festival and their Annual Christmas in the Country Festival. He also makes
monthly visits to nursing homes and has organized food drives for the local
food pantry.
His dedication and enthusiasm have led to an extensive list of recognitions
and awards: recognition as the Louisiana Public Broadcasting Young Hero in
2000, recipient of the Individual Spirit Award at the 2002 SADD National Conference,
and being named Universal Cheerleading Association All Star in 2004.
China
Bauman
Sebastian River High School
Sebastian, Florida
China Bauman is a senior at Sebastian River High School of Sebastian, Florida.
She has been a member and president of her SADD chapter for three years and
serves as the chapter historian. During her tenure, China was an organizer
and participant in many activities, including Red Ribbon Week, Mock Driving
Under the Influence Crash, Christmas Parade, and Roadside Cleanup. China has
attended the Florida SADD State Conference for the past two years and is a
member of the Florida Student Advisory Board.
China is active in several school activities as well. She is treasurer of
Interact Club and has been a student council representative for four years.
China was a member of last year’s prom committee. She is a member of
Drama Troop and the Sebastian River High School color guard. She also serves
as the school newspaper’s chief editor. China is also an athlete; she
has played varsity lacrosse for the past four years and was team captain for
two years.
As an active member of her community, China has participated in many activities,
including the Frog Leg Festival, lacrosse clinics, and several parades.
Mary
Bell
Institute
of Notre Dame
Baltimore, Maryland
Mary Bell is a senior at the Institute of Notre Dame in Baltimore, Maryland.
She has been a SADD member since 2000. Mary has worked hard to promote SADD
and has helped increase membership from just 15 students in her freshman year
to 76 members this year. Each year Mary has promoted SADD during the club
fair to recruit potential members and managed the open house to recruit students
for both SADD and the Institute of Notre Dame.
In a statewide role, she currently serves on the Baltimore County SADD Executive
Board, serving as co-chair of the dance committee. She attended the Baltimore
County SADD Peer Leadership Summit and is working on a program to elementary
and middle school SADD conferences.
Mary has assumed many roles in her chapter. She is the SADD historian and
photographer, and she has concentrated much of her efforts to fund-raising
activities and increasing awareness. Her fund-raising activities include "Tag
Days," a program that allows students who pay $1 to not wear a uniform
for one day. Mary has sold pizza and cookie dough to raise funds and has participated
in a pancake lunch, community carwashes, corporate sponsor drives, solicitation
of local businesses, bake sales, and Tupperware fund-raisers. The funds raised
by these activities were used to support the SADD chapter and to send students
to the SADD National Conference. In addition, Mary has played a key role in
organizing the SADD "Destructive Decision of the Month" bulletin
board, on which information and resources are placed to serve as a valuable
resource for students who face potentially difficult and destructive decisions.
She has also taken active roles in promoting Prom Promise, the Red Carnation
campaign, and candlelight vigils to remember those who died in drunk driving
accidents, for which she assisted in developing public service announcements
and pre-prom assemblies to increase SADD awareness.
She is also the secretary of the AED Committee, a school-run program that
successfully obtained two automatic external defibrillators for the school.
As a committee member, she received training to become CPR and AED certified
through a SADD-sponsored training course. She also trains and teaches students
how to effectively check and use the AEDs. Mary shared these skills by participating
in the "How to Jump Start Your Community" workshop at the 2004 SADD
National Conference and plans to present a workshop at this year’s conference
in Washington, D.C.
Mary’s commitment to leadership has also influenced her community. She
led initiatives to raise money for a local family whose members were tragically
murdered as they tried to fight violence and drugs. She participated in fund-raisers
for Chara House, a community-based transitional home for infants and toddlers
with medical and developmental challenges such as prenatal drug exposure and
HIV/AIDS. She also volunteers her time to Pets on Wheels.
Victoria
Bredt
Independence
High School
Independence, Ohio
Victoria Bredt is the Ohio SADD Student of the Year. She is a junior at Independence
High School in Independence, Ohio, and has been a member of SADD since 2002.
She currently serves as chapter president and treasurer. Victoria has spoken
to civic groups to promote SADD and organized Run for Stronger Bones, at which
she will run a workshop for children for making positive choices. She has
been an active member of the Ohio Student Leadership Council for three years.
She founded and implemented the "Happy Birthday Card" program, which
promotes seat belt usage and alcohol-free driving. She organizes events for
Red Ribbon Week, planting tulips, passing out ribbons, decorating cars, and
spreading a drug-free message. Victoria has also conducted cell phone drives
and worked on the Student to Student Exchange program, working to end hate
and discrimination. She mentors primary and middle school students and organized
a poster contest for them with topics including alcohol awareness and stranger
danger.
Victoria is an excellent student who has been a member of the National Honor
Society since 2002. She received the Outstanding Student of American Achievement
Award in 2004 and the Presidential Academic Award. She was chosen as a member
of the Four Star Society, which acknowledges students with superior leadership,
academic, and citizenship skills.
She is also involved in school activities. She is currently a member of the
Leadership Council, Yearbook Committee, Key Club, Mock Trial, Marching Band,
and Vocal Ensemble. Victoria is the General Officer of the Biology Society,
and she has served on the Student Council. She has also been a member of the
school newspaper staff.
Victoria volunteers her time to children in her community. One afternoon each
week she tutors a five-year-old boy with autism. She implemented "Read-N-Lead,"
a program in which high school students help teach kindergarten and first
grade children how to read, and she teaches horseback riding to children with
disabilities.
Laura
Grubbs
Carver High School
Walkertown, North Carolina
Laura Grubbs is the North Carolina SADD Student of the Year. She is currently
a junior at Carver High School in Walkertown, North Carolina. Laura has been
a SADD member for three years and has participated in many events, including
Law Enforcement Week, the Great American Smokeout, Prom Promise, Students
Warning Against Tobacco, Teacher Appreciation, Red Ribbon Week, National Youth
Violence Week, and Angel Tree.
Laura is an honor roll student, a Crosby Scholar, and a member of the National
Honor Society. She serves the Carver Against Destructive Decisions Youth (CADDY)
president and is a member of the School Improvement Team. She is on the Sara
Lee School Business Partnership Committee and participates in teen and civic
forums. In addition, Laura is a dedicated athlete who has been a member of
the softball and cross-country track teams. She is also the majorette co-captain
and a member of the JROTC drill team.
Laura’s other community activities include Rake & Run, the Carver
High School stadium cleanup, and the multicultural festival. On the state
level, Laura serves on the SADD Youth Board and the Winston-Salem/Forsyth
County Drug and Alcohol Coalition. She has worked on blood drives and canned
food drives and as a Governor’s page.
Laura has received several honors and awards, including the Walkertown Civic
Club Youth Service Award, JROTC Community Service Award, JROTC Personal Appearance
Ribbon, and JROTC Good Conduct Ribbon, and was a Winston-Salem/Forsyth County
JROTC academic winner for the past two year.
In addition to all of her school and community activities, Laura is active
in her church and has served in many roles as a volunteer. She is also a member
of the choir and plays both piano and clarinet.
Celia
Marie Hooker
St.
Johnsbury Academy
St. Johnsbury, Vermont
Celia Marie Hooker attends St. Johnsbury Academy in St. Johnsbury, Vermont,
and is currently in her junior year. She has been a dedicated SADD and Vermont
Teen Leadership Safety Program (VTSLP) member for the past three years. She
has organized many events, including the Red Ribbon Tree Ceremony to raise
awareness of National Impaired and Drugged Driving Awareness Month in 2003
and 2004. She also serves as a Youth Advisory Council representative and is
a member of the planning committee of the Governor’s Youth Leadership
Conference.
Celia is active in other school and community activities and organizations.
She is a member of her student government; she was her sophomore class president
and has been a class representative for the past two years. She organized
and participated in many events at her school, including the school’s
Winter Carnival. She worked on the sophomore class Hallway Committee and participated
in the "Helping Hands" mentoring program at a local middle school.
She has participated in the American Cancer Society’s Daffodil Days program.
She is a member of the National Honor Society and a recipient of the 2001-2002
Presidential Academic Achievement Award. Celia is also active in school sports.
She is a member of the junior varsity soccer, track, cross country, and basketball
teams.
Celia has attended the Governor’s Youth Leadership Conference for three
years, serving as a planning committee member for two. She attended the 2004
SADD National Conference in St. Louis, where she and her chapter were awarded
the coveted Spirit Stick. She also attended the VTLSP/SADD and the Law Conference
in 2004.
In addition to her SADD, school, and community-service activities, Celia is
active in her church. She attended the Youth Autumn Conference for the Troy
Conference of Methodist Churches and has been a member of the Conference Council
on Youth Ministries. She is a leader, organizer, and participant in the youth-run
and youth-formalized worship service.
Michelle
Latondress
Meade County High School
Guston, Kentucky
Michelle Latondress is a junior at Meade County High School in Guston, Kentucky.
She has been a member of SADD for three years, serving as secretary for two
and currently as president of her chapter. She is involved in many SADD activities,
including sales of scarves and carnations to raise funds.
Michelle has participated in many school-related activities including the
Pep Club, the Spanish Club, and the Student Technology Leadership Program.
She is a member of the high school band. Michelle serves as an officer of
the Youth in Charge Club and is a peer mediator. She is also a member of the
swim team, for which she also serves as manager.
She has attended numerous leadership conferences, including the Kentucky Technology
Leadership and Teen Leadership conferences. She is a member of the Health
Occupations Students of America.
Michelle is an active and dedicated member of her community. She has volunteered
her time to the Meade County Clothes Closet, the American Cancer Society’s
Relay for Life, the Meade County Senior Citizen Christmas Dinner, and the
WHAS Crusade for Children. She also volunteers at a local nursing home.
She has served as Human Rights Commissioner for the past three years. She
served as Student Ambassador to Australia in June 2004. Michelle is an active
volunteer for her local churches. She has served as a member of the youth
group, given a sermon at sunrise services, and taught vacation Bible school.
She is also an officer of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Jenna
Yockim
Williston High School
Williston, North Dakota
Jenna Yockim is the North Dakota SADD Student of the Year. She is a senior
at Williston High School in Williston, North Dakota, and has been an active
member of SADD for six years. Jenna has served on her school’s Student
Advisory Board and on the statewide North Dakota Student Advisory Board. She
attended the North Dakota State SADD Conference for four consecutive years.
In 2004 she attended the SADD National Conference, the Junior High SADD Conference,
and the BeAmazed Teen Maze.
At Williston High School, Jenna is an honor roll student and a member of the
National Honor Society. She has been a student council representative since
2002 and was Girl’s State Representative in June 2004. She has been the
chairman of Williston High School’s Spring Fling and was a member of
the prom decoration committee and the class float committee.
Jenna is a sports fan and an athlete. She has been a hockey cheerleader for
the past two years and the football statistician for three seasons. She is
also a member of the hip-hop dance competition team.
She participates in community-service activities. For the past three years
she has worked for the Mr. Irresistible charity pageant and on the Halloween
and Fourth of July community parties. She volunteers her time at a local nursing
home and is an AIDS peer educator. Her community efforts led to her being
recognized by a local television affiliate as the Student of the Month in
January 2004. In addition to her SADD, community-service, and school activities,
Jenna holds two part-time jobs.
Youth Advisor
Jacqueline
Hackett
George Washington University
Washington, D.C.
Jacqueline Hackett is the 2004-2005 SADD National Student of the Year. She
is a sophomore at The George Washington University in Washington, D.C., where
she is majoring in human services and political science with a focus on public
policy.
A 2004 graduate of Souderton Area High School in Pennsylvania, Jacqueline
served as the co-coordinator for her school’s chapter for two years and
led her chapter’s Prom Promise, White Out Day, and Chalk Walk. She was
vice president of her class for two years and was also involved with the Souderton
Youth Advisory Board. During her tenure at Souderton Area High School, Jacqueline
received numerous academic and participation awards, including Most Involved
Student in her graduating class, accomplishments in journalism, and dedication
to promoting a drug-free lifestyle throughout her community.
Jacqueline served on the planning committees for Pennsylvania’s statewide
conference with Pennsylvanians Against Underage Drinking and on the Youth
to Youth/SADD service-learning project conducted in Nassau, Bahamas. During
her time on the SADD National Student Leadership Council, Jacqueline testified
on behalf of SADD National at a Congressional subcommittee hearing on education
reform in February 2004. She served two terms on the SADD National Student
Leadership Council.
As SADD National Student of the Year, Jacqueline served as a youth representative
to the National Organizations for Youth Safety and worked as summer intern
for the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Impaired Driving
Division in Washington, D.C. She attended the first awards dinner of Street
Law, Inc., where the Honorable Sandra Day O’Connor received an award.
On her college’s campus, Jacqueline is assuming many leadership roles,
including being a leader for incoming freshmen who are interested in community
service and volunteerism. She is also a sister in Alpha Delta Pi sorority,
where she serves as the intramural sports chair. She is the Class Coordinator
for her graduating class. Jacqueline works for the university as a Community
Host, and in her spare time on campus she participates in many intramural
sports, including soccer and volleyball. She also likes to volunteer at the
Newman Catholic Student Center.
Jacqueline currently serves as the student coordinator and founder for the
Global Perspectives Upperclass Living and Learning Community, a co-curricular
group designed to explore different cultures that are present in the various
D.C. neighborhoods and beyond and to enhance the college experience. In this
role she oversees the programming development and implementation for 27 undergraduate
peers.
