Middle Creek senior is key leader of national SAVE meeting

April 7, 2006 - Middle Creek High senior Channing Shor was one of the key leaders at the 10th Annual Summit for the National Association of Students Against Violence Everywhere, or SAVE held in Raleigh April 1.

Shor has served this year as the Chair of the National SAVE Youth Advisory Board.

"Being involved with SAVE has motivated me to become a better person," said Shor. "Before, I was afraid to speak up in groups and public speaking, even in front of a class of thirty, would make me lose sleep. Now in groups, I've developed leadership skills and usually the first to get the work going, willing to compromise ideas to help better the project, knowing that there isn't only one way to do something. SAVE has inspired me not only to be more confident, it has given me a way to make a difference in the lives of others."

At the summit, Adams Elementary fourth-grader Adrian Correa was named the 2005-06 National SAVE Student of the Year for outstanding performance and lasting contributions to the school, community and students and for exemplifying the ideals of SAVE.

Correa has attended every SAVE Chapter meeting at his school, even when his part of the year round school is tracked out. He has been very active in all of the chapter's activities including being trained in conflict management. He works well with all of his peers in the SAVE club as well as his classmates. He volunteers to help and often encourages others. He is friendly, helpful and courteous to his peers in the SAVE Club. Being fluent in English and Spanish, Adrian is very helpful in translating for other students. He goes above and beyond to make others feel comfortable and to work out disagreements.

Close to 1,000 students, teachers, law enforcement officers, counselors, and community leaders from across the nation who run SAVE chapters in their schools and communities came together to help celebrate 17 years of SAVE and to share their ideas and accomplishments of the year. The theme for this year's summit was "SAVE: Erasing the Colors of Violence."

The Summit included motivational workshops with interactive activities, a presentation by the nationally acclaimed Periwinkle Theatre "Halfway There: A True Story of Personal Triumphs Over Substance Use", a magic show by Fish the Magish on Battling Bullies and a national service project effort. Workshop sessions were filled with both fun and educational information taught by SAVE members from across the country. This year the national service project involved SAVE chapters collecting coloring books, crayons, markers and art supplies to be sent schools reopening in areas devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

The National Association of SAVE is a student-run, student-initiated public non-profit violence prevention organization with over 1,600 chapters in 44 states and close to 200,000 members in elementary, middle, high schools, colleges and communities nationwide. SAVE provides education about the effects and consequences of violence and helps provide safe activities for students, parents and communities.

For further information on the Summit or other SAVE activities, please visit www.nationalsave.org

-wcpss-