Monday, March 09, 2009

More than 300 middle school students from seven North Carolina counties will learn health tips and decision-making strategies from peers at the second annual University of North Carolina Wilmington Youth Health Summit on Friday, March 13, 2009.

During interactive workshops designed and taught by teens, youths will discuss sensitive teen health issues like pregnancy and substance abuse from 10:30 a.m. to noon in UNC Wilmington's Cameron Hall.

Student attendees represent 17 different Southeastern N.C. schools. Workshop instructors are students in the UNCW School of Nursing (SON) Camp BONES (Brigade of Nurse Exploring Seahawks) program, a four-year education program that prepares underrepresented and underserved high school students for careers in nursing and health fields. These student-instructors researched youth health topics including substance abuse, adolescent stress, asthma and abstinence. Workshops will include hands-on activities, role playing and other interactive teaching tools.

Prior to student presentations, keynote speaker Kwain Bryant, CEO of Empowerment Exchange, a Charlotte-based consulting firm that aids organizations with leadership training and development strategies, will address participants. Students will also gain insight from various N.C. leaders including Harry Marshall, trauma surgeon at UNC Chapel Hill Hospital, who will explore non-violent conflict resolution.

Major funding for the second annual Youth Health Summit is provided by the N.C. GlaxoSmithKline Foundation. Both the Summit and Camp BONES are part of the SON's Nursing and Health Academy program for community partnerships. Schools from Bladen, Columbus, Duplin, New Hanover, Onslow, Pender and Sampson Counties will be in attendance.

Media are invited to capture visual and interview opportunities at the summit upon request. Student presentations will include hands-on activities, role playing and more.

Media Contacts:
Joy Davis, UNCW Marketing and Communications, 910.916.8603 or davisjc@uncw.edu