Sienna Sosnoski- Sienna is a class of 2021 graduate from Southern Columbia School District. During her sophomore year of high school, her life changed when she lost her best friend to suicide. As a 15-year-old, this type of loss was incomprehensible, and left her trying to pick up the pieces of a life she was so sure of. Suddenly she was questioning everything, and really struggling with her worth and place in this world. Sienna is here to share about how she grew through her struggles, the resources she used during this difficult time, and how it empowered her within school. Sienna is currently a Junior at Penn State Main Campus studying Biology with neuroscience and psychological science as minors.

Erin(she/her)- Erin is a Junior at Lewisburg School District who enjoys camping, writing and engaging in a variety of political and social justice advocacy work. She wants to share her story to help peers who may be struggling with anxiety or other mental health issues.

Dr. Sam Faulkner- Sam is the Director of The Pediatric Bridge Clinic which provides rapid access to evidence-based assessments and interventions for youth and families in crisis. He is the clinical director of Project AWARE, a SAMSHA-funded project to support assessments, prevention, and interventions across school, community, and hospital systems. He is also the Pediatric Psychologist for Geisinger’s Emergency Department and the Janet Weis Children’s Hospital (JWCH). He contributes to the care of pediatric patients in these settings, participates in a multidisciplinary team approach, trains future psychologists and physicians, contributes to continuing education, and participates in program development and community outreach. He is also a member of the pediatric behavioral consultation/liaison service which serves nearly every ED in the Geisinger system in addition to the JWCH.

Tia Dreckman- Tia is a K-12 Professional School Counselor with 21 years of experience in public education. A graduate of Bloomsburg University and The Citadel, she is a Nationally Certified Counselor, a QPR Suicide Gatekeeper trainer, and an LGI Trauma Informed Care instructor. Ms. Dreckman is an advocate for students and has devoted much of her career to the middle grades.  Most notably, Ms. Dreckman works to dispel the myth that parenting and educating teens has to be difficult, a narrative that she believes works against the health and success of our youth.  

Rebecca Perruquet-  Rebecca is the Community School Coordinator and serves as the  truancy officer for Warrior Run School District.  She enjoys working with families to breakdown barriers that influence student success. Previously she was a teacher, an Elementary principal and a Middle School Principal.  She is the mother of 5 children and a grandmother to 14 amazing kids.  In her spare time she serves as the Aquatics Director for the Danville Area Community Center, teaching swim lessons to infants through adults.  She believes in the power of swimming to increase brain health, increase cognition, memory, and mood regulation for all ages. 

Mallory Weymer- Mallory has over a decade of experience in higher education administration, including a SAMHSA GLS Suicide Prevention Specialist and 8+ years as a certified QPR Master Trainer. She has served as a Pennsylvania Regional Board of Directors member for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) and chaired Out of the Darkness suicide prevention walks for five years. Currently, Mallory serves as the Grants Research and Development Coordinator for CSIU, utilizing her skills to secure resources for crucial education initiatives.

Danielle Empson-Schultz-McDowell Institute- Danielleis the Director of the McDowell Institute situated within the College of Education and Human Studies at Bloomsburg University. The McDowell Institute is dedicated to supporting social, emotional, and behavioral wellness of children, youth, and young adults across school and community settings. Ms. Empson-Schultz earned her undergraduate degree in Psychology and subsequently her Masters of Science in Special Education from Bloomsburg University. Her current areas of scholarship emphasize promotion and prevention endeavors associated with social, emotional and behavioral wellness in PK-12 schools and in college and university settings as well as trauma-informed approaches to build resiliency in PK-12 and college age students.

Students Preserving Mental Health(SPM Club)- SPM, Students Preserving Mental Health, was formed in 2021 by Danville Area High School students after two students died by suicide.  Our mission is to spread mental health awareness to our school and our community.  We want everyone to know that they are not alone, and that it's okay to not be okay.  Our goal is to break the stigma regarding mental illness.  

Schulykill County- Aevidum Clubs- Aevidum is not only a group but a movement that shatters the silence that surrounds depression, suicide, and other issues facing youth. We strive to create healthy communities where everyone feels accepted, appreciated, acknowledged, and cared for in schools. Aevidum empowers students to use their unique voices and talents to make a difference as well as recognize the gifts of their peers. Together, we create authentic cultures of care and advocacy within our schools. We are Aevidum. We create differently. We think differently. We do differently

Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) Club- SAVE puts student leaders in a position to advocate for change within both the school and community, with the main goal being violence prevention.