In 2001 a group of students from Lamesa High School, in cooperation with the Region 17 Education Service Center, created a youth summit to address issue of substance use in our area. Knowing that Lamesa was not alone in facing the problem, the goal was to create a coalition among schools in our area so problems and solutions concerning this issue might be shared. Each school in the ESC Region was invited. The project, advised by Iva Beck, was called Project SUMMIT, Students Uniting to Make Meaningful Influences Together.
The workshops held at the summit were suitable for all ages. The effects of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome on the unborn child were presented and keynote speakers highlighted the event. Students were also visited by the “Grinch” and learned ways to teach young children how to say no to alcohol.
After the initial SUMMIT, students and advisors from the six area schools who attended the conference joined the effort to carry out SUMMIT 2002. A student committee was established. Students from Lubbock-Cooper, with faculty advisor Debby Tabor, chaired the event. Students wrote a mission statement and an informal advisory committee was established.
Seven schools joined the effort to carry out SUMMIT 2003. Shallowater students chaired the event with the guidance of their advisor, Cindy Couch. A professional advisory committee and a student planning committee were established. Attendance tripled in size compared to the initial SUMMIT.
SUMMIT, a vision from the beginning, has become a reality. SUMMIT has now become SUMMIT (Students Uniting To Make Meaningful Influences Together), Inc, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. It has a Board of Directors and an Adult Advisory Committee in addition to the Student Planning Committee. Students continue to plan and carry out annual SUMMIT events. Because of the tremendous growth SUMMIT was located at the Lubbock Civic Center for over decade, at Lubbock-Cooper High School for several years, and has been hosted at Indiana Avenue Baptist Church since 2021.
The workshops held at the summit were suitable for all ages. The effects of Fetal Alcohol Syndrome on the unborn child were presented and keynote speakers highlighted the event. Students were also visited by the “Grinch” and learned ways to teach young children how to say no to alcohol.
After the initial SUMMIT, students and advisors from the six area schools who attended the conference joined the effort to carry out SUMMIT 2002. A student committee was established. Students from Lubbock-Cooper, with faculty advisor Debby Tabor, chaired the event. Students wrote a mission statement and an informal advisory committee was established.
Seven schools joined the effort to carry out SUMMIT 2003. Shallowater students chaired the event with the guidance of their advisor, Cindy Couch. A professional advisory committee and a student planning committee were established. Attendance tripled in size compared to the initial SUMMIT.
SUMMIT, a vision from the beginning, has become a reality. SUMMIT has now become SUMMIT (Students Uniting To Make Meaningful Influences Together), Inc, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. It has a Board of Directors and an Adult Advisory Committee in addition to the Student Planning Committee. Students continue to plan and carry out annual SUMMIT events. Because of the tremendous growth SUMMIT was located at the Lubbock Civic Center for over decade, at Lubbock-Cooper High School for several years, and has been hosted at Indiana Avenue Baptist Church since 2021.
