Tukes Valley DREAM Team

TVM’s DREAM Team earned an invitation to the 2024 Washington State Spring Youth Forum in May. Along with Chief Umtuch Middle School’s DREAM Team, TVM students demonstrated their public speaking and leadership skills as they gave formal presentations about their efforts to foster health and well-being among their peers. They were joined at the forum by approximately 40 teams from other schools (mostly high schools), all working to improve outcomes for Washington state youth.

TVM students, who are in their first year as a DREAM Team, presented a project titled Prevention Bingo. This activity was aimed at promoting nicotine prevention and encouraging a drug-free lifestyle among students. Bingo cards featured key prevention words, and the school’s daily morning announcements shared corresponding prevention facts.

The teams were judged on their innovation, sustainability, impact, presentation style, professionalism, collaboration and partnerships.

In the end, TVM’s team tied for third place out of all the teams. Congratulations to Jocelyn Curry, Seth Kent, Ella Kohlenberger, Alexis Mesecher, Levi Sandstrom and Rex Wing, as well as their advisers Blake Bowers, Linda Korum and Felisha Sandberg.

DREAM Teams are the youth extension of the Prevent Together: Battle Ground Prevention Alliance. These youth leaders are focused on empowering their peers to live drug-free lives and engaging in honest conversations about drugs, alcohol and coping with stress or depression.