Vienna High School was recognized on the national stage when two staff members, social workers Edna Bundren and Brandi Hammond, along with two seniors, Krista McBride and Joscelyn Morrow, were invited to present at the National Conference on Tobacco and Health held in Chicago.
This opportunity stemmed from a dual-credit Social Work class project. As part of the course, students were challenged to develop a project that would positively impact their community. McBride and Morrow partnered with Southern Illinois Healthcare (SIH) to support their anti-vaping campaign. Their collaborative work, guided by Mrs. Bundren and Mrs. Hammond, caught the attention of SIH, which submitted a proposal to the conference based on their project. The proposal was accepted, and the Vienna team was selected to lead two breakout sessions at the national event.
The two seniors were among only five students nationwide to present at this conference, which was composed mainly of health professionals and adult advocates. Their participation showcased the significant role youth voices can play in advancing public health awareness and community change.
The group’s presentation drew significant attention from health professionals across the country. Following their session, educators and advocates from another state reached out to Mrs. Bundren and Mrs. Hammond, requesting their participation in a podcast focused on helping other schools launch similar student-led initiatives.
Superintendent Joshua Stafford shared, “We are incredibly proud of Joscelyn, Krista, Mrs. Bundren, and Mrs. Hammond for representing Vienna High School on a national platform. Their work demonstrates the power of student-driven learning and community collaboration. This is a shining example of how authentic classroom experiences can lead to meaningful, real-world impact.”
Reflecting on the experience in an article she later wrote for the Vienna High School newspaper, The Talon, Joscelyn shared that the opportunity helped her realize just how much her voice matters. “This project showed us that students can influence change far beyond the classroom,” she wrote.
Vienna High School wants to extend a huge thank you to Southern Illinois Healthcare for their partnership and support in making this opportunity possible. The success of this project underscores Vienna’s ongoing commitment to empowering students to lead, serve, and make lasting contributions to their communities.