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WAHS SADD Club wins 1st place in statewide suicide prevention video contest

Williamsport Area School District ›  |  Posted on

From left is Kyra Lichtenfels, Colyn Jandrisavitz, Jeremy Steppe (advisor), Zion Hughes and Isabella Newcomer

A Williamsport Area High School (WAHS) video produced to help raise awareness on mental health stigmas and suicide prevention received first place for the fourth consecutive year in a recent statewide PSA contest conducted by Prevent Suicide PA (PSPA).

The video, created by members of the high school’s Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) Club, earned the top spot in the 60-second category through online votes received from both students and the broader public.

The high school’s winning video tells the story of a student, played by Zion Hughes, who shares his struggles on social media. Another student sees the message and alerts the school counselor, who steps in to offer support. After speaking with his counselor, the video ends with Hughes appearing better mentally as he plays basketball in the gym with his friend.

Those responsible for the video are SADD Club members, Hughes, Colyn Jandrisavitz, Kyra Lichtenfels and Isabella Newcomer, with production assistance from Greg Hayes, the district’s public relations director.

“I’m incredibly proud of our students for using their voices and creativity to tackle such an important issue,” said Jeremy Steppe, the club’s advisor. “Winning this award for the fourth year in a row speaks to their dedication, but more importantly, it shows their commitment to making a real difference. This video is a powerful reminder of the role we all play in supporting one another, and I couldn’t be more impressed by their work.”

The club’s winning work will be honored with an on-field ceremony this spring at either a Pittsburgh Pirates or Philadelphia Phillies game. The aim of the annual contest is to empower and give rise to youth voices in the prevention conversation using “new and creative ways to share resources with our communities,” according to PSPA.

Click here to watch the high school’s video.