A new club is currently available at FHS, and it’s called “Students Against Destructive Decisions,” or SADD. Formerly known as Students Against Drunk Driving, it has since expanded to include more issues than just teen alcohol abuse, now covering a broad array of potentially-destructive decisions. The club was once offered at Freedom about 10 years ago, and has since been revived in 2015-2016 school year for a new generation.

“What we try to do is promote healthy lifestyles and smart decisions. That includes no drinking, no drugs [and] promoting a good self-awareness,” Club Sponsor Mr. Brad Baldwin said.

Along with that, it also tries to reinforce good driving habits, such as wearing a seat belt, making smart driving decisions and being aware of others.

One of the first projects they will take up is Ava’s Angels. Senior Nicole Manges, club founder and president, initiated this project as it has deeply impacted her own life.

Ava’s Angels was formed in memory of 6-year-old Ava Campbell, cousin of Manges, who was killed in an automobile crash last Sept. 27, 2015. She was struck by a 20-year-old male, who admitted drinking before getting behind the wheel.

Ava was the daughter of Amber and Dave Campbell, a well-respected volunteer firefighter chief. The night of the accident, Amber, Ava and her sister Gracie were leaving a play date when an approaching car went out of control, striking Amber and Ava, barely missing Gracie. Amber was flipped into the air by the impact, and she declined medical attention while tending to her daughter. Ava suffered severe lung and liver damage as well as a fractured pelvis. After her unfortunate passing, Manges formed this club to prevent similar tragedies from occurring.

“One tragic and irresponsible decision made by an individual behind the wheel can shatter any one of our worlds,” Manges said in her school-wide email.

Drunk driving can affect anyone at any time, and is a reality for more people than just Manges.
“Like Nicole, my cousin was actually killed in a drunk-driving accident, but she was actually the driver, so I see the different side of the spectrum with Nicole’s story. It’s a decision that could’ve easily been avoided. I want to make sure it doesn’t happen to anybody else, especially the kids here,” Baldwin said.

The loss of Ava and others like her will live on through the education of SADD members, including Manges as president, Sophomores Lexi Halvin as vice president, Haley Greco as secretary and Kitt Jordan as treasurer.

“I feel like if we get the information out, everyone will see it’s honestly such a good cause. People don’t want to admit to having an addiction, so I feel like if we get the numbers out there… maybe other people will want to come out and get help,” Halvin said.

They also hope to fundraise for future projects and order T-shirts for their members as well as sell Ava’s Angels T-shirts to raise money for the organization.

“It’s an organization that we’re doing to raise money for the little girl that was killed in a drunk driving accident… it just happened, the family is still hurting, so raising money will give awareness and just give that family peace of mind,” Halvin said.