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RUTLAND, Mass. – Since the beginning of the school year Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis has been on a mission presenting his Face2Face drug and alcohol prevention and education program twice a week to middle school and high school students from across the region.
The Sheriff, in his commitment to personally bring his powerful and effective Face2Face message to every school district in his jurisdiction, has already met with over 20,000 school kids from every corner of Worcester County.
On Friday he paid a very special visit to Central Tree Middle School to have a Face2Face meeting with over 200 students in the 7th & 8th grades to discuss the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse.
The Face2Face program is an ongoing part of the Sheriff’s Substance Abuse Prevention and Education Initiative for Worcester County Schools. The Sheriff’s Face2Face system uses cutting edge technology and special computer software to simulate the shocking effects substance abuse can have on a person’s appearance over time, students at Central Tree Middle School were able to see firsthand the potential devastating impact drug use can have on their very own classmates.
“As a former Legislator and today as Sheriff I always enjoy spending time in Rutland, I especially enjoyed meeting with over 200 7th and 8th grade students at Central Tree Middle School today to discuss the enormous consequences and devastating effects of substance abuse.”
Evangelidis continued “With almost 90 percent of the inmates today at the Worcester County House of Correction addicted to drugs or alcohol, I have focused on education and prevention as the best way to keep our youth from starting on that direct path to prison. As the only Sheriff in the country presenting this program, it is extremely important for me to personally bring the Face2Face message to every middle school & high school throughout Worcester County.”
“We truly appreciate Sheriff Evangelidis coming to Central Tree Middle School to present the Face2Face drug prevention program. Today’s presentation was extremely well received and the feedback by both our faculty and students has been tremendous," said Central Tree Middle School Vice Principal Jodi Bourassa. "Sheriff Evangelidis did a fantastic job of engaging our students with his upbeat personality and kept their undivided attention with his use of celebrities, sports icons, real life testimonials and interesting videos. By far, the Sheriff’s presentation was one of the best assemblies we have had at Central Tree Middle School, we look forward to having him back next year with the Face2Face program.”
The Face2Face Program was donated by individuals and businesses who are dedicated to the County’s youth. In the past few months Sheriff Evangelidis has personally presented Face2Face to Middle & High School students in Worcester, Leominster, Clinton, Leicester, Spencer, Boylston, Southbridge, Millbury, Gardner, Grafton, Auburn, Charlton, Oxford, Athol, North Brookfield, Holden, Paxton, Webster, West Boylston, Dudley, Barre, Northbridge, Warren, Templeton, Shrewsbury, Mendon and Sutton. School Administrators have given the Sheriff’s Face2Face Program high marks as well, including David Prouty High School Principal Robert O’Brien.
“In over 20 years of being an educator, Sheriff Evangelidis was by far the most effective speaker in spreading the word of the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Both students and parents made a point of thanking me for making this program available at our school, I hope others schools take advantage of this opportunity.”
During the school year the sheriff dedicates his time twice a week to personally present the Face2Face program to middle schools and high schools throughout the region and to date is honored to have met Face2Face with over 20,000 students from all over Worcester County.
“Face2Face is an effective and innovative drug prevention program designed to make students think twice before making that bad choice to begin drug and alcohol use,” said Evangelidis.
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