Chowan University Department of Criminal Justice students visited Hertford County Middle School on October 15th, to encourage students to remain drug-free and focus on their education as part of the school’s Red Ribbon Week.

The Department of Criminal Justice visits Hertford County Middle School during their Red Ribbon Week, annually. Each Chowan student spoke to a separate eighth-grade elective class. Criminal justice majors engaged students in conversation about the negative consequences of drug use, the positive impact of an education, and shared their own experiences. Chowan students explained what led them to attend college; specifically, what called them to choose Chowan. The eighth graders asked questions about academic programs at Chowan and enjoyed hearing different views from Chowan students.

The goal of the week is to emphasize the importance of staying drug-free. The program also focuses on the prevention of bullying. Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice Pamela Woodard accompanied 13 Chowan students this year.  Alexander Daniel of Bullock, NC, visited the school for the first time and said, “It was an eye-opening experience that I will never forget.”  The enthusiasm of the middle schoolers moved him and he is eager to talk to them again.  

Woodard said, “I was honored and proud to take students from Chowan to visit local middle school students.” Introducing children to the possibilities of college early helps them think about their futures. News and World Reports says eighth-grade is the ideal time to increase conversations about college with students to encourage them to continue their education.

The National Red Ribbon Campaign began in 1985. In response to the murder of Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Agent Enrique Camarena, angered parents and youth in communities across the country wore red ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to raise awareness of the killing and destruction caused by drugs in America. In 1988, National Family Partnership (NFP) sponsored the first National Red Ribbon Celebration Week. Today, Red Ribbon Week serves as a catalyst to mobilize communities to educate youth and encourage participation in drug prevention activities. The campaign has reached millions of U.S. children and families since its inception.