A group of 10 ACS high school students are choosing to make their voices heard about urgent issues facing teens today by serving on a new Youth Advisory Board of Peer Challenge, a South Jersey non-profit that for 20 years has focused on serving and empowering youth. Kevin McHugh, a Peer Challenge coordinator and educator, met twice in May with ACS 11th and 12th grade students on the new board to develop a list of issues and begin planning a community outreach event this August in Ocean City to raise awareness about one of the pressing issues.
McHugh said that among the top issues raised by ACS students were gun violence, bullying and cyber bullying, mental health, and drug abuse. “I’m looking forward to working with the students to make this summer event a success and to continue working over the next year on additional programs that will help bridge the gap between our youth and the community,” McHugh said. McHugh began his involvement at ACS earlier this year meeting with juniors and seniors to teach a six-week course in health classes on the importance of abstinence, a program offered by Peer Challenge that is funded through the state of New Jersey to curb teen pregnancy and STD rates.