Dover Youth to Youth recently held its annual awards banquet at the Dover Lodge of Elks. This year’s banquet recognized the conclusion of Youth to Youth’s 21st year of activism in the community and celebrated the accomplishments of the student group over the last year.
More than 90 students and family members attended the event held at the Dover Lodge of Elks and several students received an award or scholarship.
Dover High School student Nick Piscitello received the award for Youth Advocate of the Year at the high school level. He was recognized for leading efforts to create the group’s first video public service announcements. Piscitello also presented at 2 out of town presentations and testified before the city council.
Dover middle school 8th grader Avery Munoz was selected as the middle school Youth Advocate of the year. Munoz was involved in a variety of advanced training projects during the year, which included proposing a city ordinance that resulted in Henry Law Park being smoke free.
Other awards presented to Youth to Youth students at the banquet included Leadership Awards to high school sophomore Jessie Mau and 8th grader Stephanie Pixley; Commitment Awards to senior Kaitlyn Hutchins and 7th grader Violette Ramy; and Advisers’ Awards to high school sophomore Emily Simons and 7th grader MJ Champagne.
In addition to the awards, Dover High School graduating seniors Abby Martinen, Adam Glidden, Alexis Marsh, Kaitlyn Hutchins, Maddie Retrosi, Paige Niler received college scholarships from the Dover Police Charities, Inc. All 6 students were active members of the Youth to Youth drug prevention group from 6th grade until graduating this year.
Dover Youth to Youth is a peer-oriented drug prevention program for students in grades 6-12. Students work on a variety of drug prevention programs and community service projects throughout the year. These projects alert the community about the dangers of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. Youth to Youth is coordinated by the Dover Police Department’s Community Outreach Bureau.
