Stephen Winkler
2008-09 Student
of the Year
Seneca, Kansas
Stephen Winkler of Seneca, Kansas, is the 2008-2009 SADD National Student of the Year. He is an active member of the Kansas SADD Student Leadership Council and is on the executive committee of the Nemaha Valley High School SADD chapter. Stephen most recently served on the 2007-2008 SADD National Student Leadership Council.
During his time with SADD, Stephen has participated in a variety of activities. One of his favorite and most memorable activities was a Parent Awareness Night. His chapter invited all parents of students in grades 7-12 to the school for an evening of speakers and discussion about the issues teens face today. He has also been instrumental in organizing alternative nights out, motivational speakers, a mock car crash, and other events at his school.
As a member of the 2007-2008 SADD National Student Leadership Council, Stephen served on the field services working group and the scholarship committee for the 2008 SADD National conference. He also represented SADD at the NOYS (National Organizations for Youth Safety) meeting, the Kansas Transportation Safety Conference, and the Florida, West Virginia, and Northern Lights (North Dakota & Minnesota) SADD conferences.
Stephen served as trainer for the Kansas Youth Leadership Summit, and he helped coordinate the Kansas Red Ribbon Training and Kansas SADD Leadership Conference. In 2007, he received the esteemed Nemaha Valley High School Leadership Award for his involvement with SADD at the local, state, and national levels.
An excellent student, Stephen was a member of the National Honor Society and graduated in the top five of his class as a Kansas scholar. He was also active in other school activities – as business manager of the yearbook staff, a member of the forensics team as a state competitor, an active member of student government, and a participant in school plays. He has been active in his community and currently serves as a student mentor in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. He also works at a local hospital.
Stephen is a freshman at Emmanuel College in Boston, Massachusetts, where he plans to study pre-medicine and political science.
Danny Ramsey
Executive
Committee
Charlottesville, Indiana
Danny Ramsey of Charlottesville, Indiana, was the 2005 Indiana SADD Student of the Year and has been a member of the Indiana Student Leadership Council since 2005. He joined SADD as a freshman at Eastern Hancock High School and has been in leadership roles ever since. Danny most recently served on the 2007-2008 SADD National Student Leadership Council.
He has been active in a variety of SADD activities at his high school. He was the writer and director of two SADD plays. He took a leadership role when his SADD chapter approached the principal of his high school to make the school tobacco-free. They succeeded, and they received an award from the state on their efforts.
At Eastern Hancock High School, he was a member of the National Honor Society and previously served on the student council. Danny is a youth board member of Youth as Resources of Central Indiana, a United Way program that provides funding for youth-led community-service projects. He also assisted with the Royal’s Drug-Free Afterschool Program for elementary and middle school students.
Danny is a freshman at Emmanuel College in Boston, Massachusetts.
Franki Tackett
Executive
Committee
Oak Grove, Louisiana
Franki Tackett of Oak Grove, Louisiana, is the Louisiana SADD Student of the Year and serves as chairperson of the Louisiana State Youth Advisory Council. She has been a SADD student for six years and has been involved in a variety of activities for her SADD chapter. Make a Difference Day: A Van for Hank was a community-service project that remains closest to Franki’s heart. Her SADD chapter hosted a benefit to raise money for a family and they were able to buy a van with a wheelchair lift for their disabled child.
An excellent student, Franki served as president of her senior class, as president of Future Business Leaders of America, and as president of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America. She is also actively involved in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Beta Club, Positive Action Team, and tennis team. Franki was the guest speaker at the 2008 Partners in Prevention Junior Coalition meeting and was asked to share her work with SADD and techniques for developing leadership skills.
Franki is a freshman at Louisiana College in Pineville, Louisiana.
Richard Birt
New Carlisle, Ohio
Richard Birt of New Carlisle, Ohio, has been a member of SADD for three years and serves as president of his chapter at Northwestern High School in Springfield. He has been involved in a variety of SADD activities, including organizing a seat belt check and developing a student survey about tobacco and drug use. Richard also coordinated an all-county meeting of SADD chapters, with the hope they will continue to meet each year to plan student events.
In addition to his work with SADD, Richard is the president of his school’s Student Council and a member of the National Honor Society. He performs with the school’s choir, marching band, symphonic band, jazz band and pep band. Richard is also a student tutor. In addition to his other activities, he is an active member of his church.
Richard is a senior at Northwestern High School.
Brittany Cobb
Orlando, Florida
Brittany Cobb of Orlando, Florida, has been a member of SADD for more than two years and serves as president of the William R. Boone High School chapter. She was a featured speaker at the 2007 annual Red Ribbon Week celebration in Orlando. Brittany also participated in the 2006 Florida SADD Student Leadership Summit.
An excellent student, Brittany was inducted to the National Honor Society and on her school’s honor roll from 2005 to 2007. She has spent two years as a SAFE (Student Assistance Family Empowerment) ambassador and is the recipient of the Local Hero Award for her work promoting a drug- and alcohol-free environment. Brittany is also active in community service; she has spent many hours at the Ninth Judicial Circuit of Florida Orange County Teen Court Juvenile Justice Center and the Orlando Science Center.
Brittany is a senior William R. Boone High School.
Anna Gaissert
Dover, Massachusetts
Anna Gaissert of Dover, Massachusetts, is a member of the Executive Committee of the Massachusetts Student Advisory Board and serves as the secretary of the Dover-Sherborn High School SADD chapter. She has been involved in SADD for three years and helped execute many SADD activities at her school, including safety belt observations, a sticker shock program, and a SADD prom fashion show. Anna has also led numerous workshops at local and national conferences.
In addition to her work with SADD, Anna serves as a student council representative and member of the math team. An excellent student, Anna has received several awards in math, English, and history and gold medals in the National Latin Exam. Outside of school, she spends time at Avery Manor, a nursing facility where she assists the elderly and keeps them company.
Anna is a senior at Dover-Sherborn High School.
Zackary Harrell
Cisne, Illinois
Zackary Harrell of Cisne, Illinois, has been a member of SADD for two years and serves as president of the Cisne High School chapter. He has been involved in a variety of SADD activities, including a safe teen driving initiative, a safety belt challenge, peer training, and the 2007 Illinois SADD state conference.
In addition to his work with SADD, Zackary is president of his class, serves on the Student Council and is actively involved in National Future Farmers of America. He is active in the Wayne County Youth Advisory Committee and the Illinois Drug Education Alliance. At the Wayne County Youth Forum, he led a group of students from three area high schools through a process of identifying youth issues in the community and developing suggestions for solutions.
Zackary is a senior at Cisne High School.
Darian LaNeave
Walkertown, North Carolina
Darian LaNeave of Walkertown, North Carolina, has been a member of SADD for the past four years. He was president of the Carver High School SADD chapter and is an active member of the North Carolina SADD Student Advisory Board. Darian assisted with the planning of the 2007 North Carolina SADD conference and facilitated workshops and provided assistance to other students.
An excellent student, Darian was on the National Honor Society since 2005 and the school’s honor roll since 2004. He was also a member of the student council, a school ambassador, and the captain of the varsity baseball team. Darian is also active in his community, working with the Winston-Salem Human Relations Commission and volunteering at the Winston-Salem Children’s Home and Walkertown Civic Club.
Darian is a freshman at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Allyson Lumpkin
Bainbridge, Georgia
Allyson Lumpkin of Bainbridge, Georgia, has been a member of SADD for two years and served as president of the Bainbridge High School chapter for both years. She teamed up with teachers, administrators, and the local sheriff’s department to revive the SADD chapter, which had been dormant for more than 10 years.
An excellent student, Allyson was a 2008 Scholar Athlete. She also served on the Georgia State High School Student Advisory Board and was class president. She has been a mentor for elementary school girls for four years and is president of the Sorority’s Teen Program, which empowers young ladies to become productive citizens. Allyson has also volunteered for the Big Sisters mentoring program, the Salvation Army, a local nursing home, and the local humane society.
Allyson is a freshman at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia.
Samantha Metcalf
Raymond, Washington
Samantha Metcalf of Raymond, Washington, joined SADD as a freshman at Raymond Junior/Senior High School. She is now in her second year of serving as president of the chapter. She has been involved in a variety of SADD activities organized by her chapter, including a teen panel and a Christmas parade. Samantha also chaired the 2007 western regional SADD conference in Washington, and she participated in the 2007 eastern regional SADD conference and the Washington state conference.
In addition to her work with SADD, amantha serves on the Washington State Youth Advisory Board. She is the editor of the Washington SADD newsletter and her school’s paper. She was also the facilitator for a 2007 teen-driving symposium sponsored by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission and the Department of Health.
Samantha is a senior at Raymond Junior/Senior High School.
Bridget Rekow
Ellendale, North Dakota
Bridget Rekow of Ellendale, North Dakota, is the 2007-2008 North Dakota SADD Student of the Year. In this role she has been a motivational speaker for area SADD workshops. She has been a member of SADD for six years and is the president of the Ellendale Public School chapter. Bridget has testified three times before the North Dakota State Legislature regarding the funding needs of the state SADD organization and promoting healthy decision-making among teens.
In addition to her work with SADD, Bridget served on the leadership team of the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, and she is an elected state board member to the National Honor Society. She participated in her school’s speech and drama clubs, as well as the chorus and on the volleyball and basketball teams.
Bridget is a freshman at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.
Evelyn Silva
Kearny, New Jersey
Evelyn Silva of Kearny, New Jersey, has been a member of Kearny High School SADD for the past four years and is the president of her chapter. She has been involved in a variety of SADD activities, including Red Ribbon Week, the Great American Smokeout, the annual Battle of the Bands fund-raiser, and skits for elementary students about bullying, drugs, and alcohol.
An excellent student, Evelyn is actively involved in the National Honor Society, Student Government Association, and concert band and chorus. She has served as captain of the Kearny High School Color Guard for two years. Evelyn also volunteers regularly at her church and is a Sunday school teacher. She participated in the Catholic Heart Work Camp, which revitalizes communities and beautifies homes for the elderly and disabled.
Sasha Willingham
Student of the Year Emeritus
Russellville, Alabama
Sasha Willingham of Russellville, Alabama, was the 2007-2008 SADD National Student of the Year. She is a member of the Alabama SADD Student Leadership Council. She also served as a member of the Executive Committee of the 2006-2007 SADD National Student Leadership Council.
She has been a very active SADD student for the past eight years. In her role as an Executive Committee member of the 2006-2007 SLC, she gave a presentation at the Safe and Drug Free School Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, and she was a member of the field services working group. She also was instrumental in planning the 2007 SADD National Conference and Masquerade Ball. Sasha has been an attendee at the SADD National conference since 2002.
In addition to her work with SADD, Sasha is also a committed volunteer. She has worked for the Franklin County Chamber of Commerce. She has also spent time with children and the mentally disabled. Her most rewarding experience has been helping survivors of Hurricane Katrina in her home state. She helped give a reception for Katrina victims, and she also collected Christmas presents to donate to displaced families who could not make it home for the holidays.
At Russellville High School, Sasha was an excellent student and she graduated in the top 10 percent of her class. She was also involved in many activities. She was the senior class president and was also crowned the 2006 Homecoming Queen. Sasha is also a talented athlete and was captain of the girls’ basketball team. Also a musician who has played the clarinet for six years, Sasha served as the Chaplain of her high school marching band.
Sasha is a sophomore at Jacksonville State University in Alabama. She is active on the campus. She is apart of NAACP, BACCHUS and Peer Educators. Sasha has spoken at the CADCA Conference.
