Student-produced PSAs to promote safe spring break behavior

Taking part in a public service announcement about the dangers of drinking, Area 30 EMT students come to the aid of a student who’s had too much alcohol (played by Bronwyn Spencer of North Putnam). The group of PSAs filmed on Tuesday are the brainchild of Greencastle High School senior Gabby Selvia (middle right) who explains her vision to Jonah Sanders of South Putnam, Gretchen Weliever of Greencastle and other students as Linda Merkel watches from nearby.

Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGAN

A last-minute thought before the beginning of second semester turned into the biggest project of the year for the Putnam County P.I.E. Coalition.

Greencastle senior Gabby Selvia thought the weeks leading up to spring break would be a good time to educate fellow students about the dangers of alcohol and drug abuse during their week of freedom.

After a talk with fellow P.I.E. (Prevention, Intervention, Education) students Kaylea Torr and Isabel Markham, a plan started to come together.

Banner Graphic/JARED JERNAGAN

“I thought it would be cool to do a video. It was the day before second semester started,” Selvia said. “We presented it to Mrs. Finnerty and just ran with it.”

GHS assistant principal and P.I.E. Coalition sponsor Jennifer Finnerty loved the idea, so it became a project for P.I.E. students from all four county schools.

With the trio of GHS students coordinating the projects, a script was written by students from each school. It was a tight timeline of just more than a month.

Those scripts were turned into videos Tuesday at Area 30 Career Center, under the watchful eye of Selvia, Torr and Markham, as well as Finnerty and Putnam County Youth Development Commission Director Linda Merkel.

The final result will be four public service announcements to be shown at the four high schools as spring break approaches. At GHS, they will be shown on the four Fridays preceding break.

Besides lending the use of its community room, Area 30 was also generous with its students. Besides P.I.E. Coalition members, key roles in the video were filled by Area 30 EMT and law enforcement students.

“They’ve been hugely supportive,” Finnerty said of Area 30.