PIE Coalition project culminates with Statehouse testimony

South Putnam junior Marcus Robinson testifies before the Senate Health and Provider Services Committee Wednesday at the Statehouse. Representing the Putnam County PIE Coaltion, Robinson was speaking about how House Bill 1006 needs to go further with tobacco prevention and cessation efforts in youths.

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A recent project by members of the Putnam County PIE Coalition resulted in a visit to the Indiana Statehouse this week, with one of them testifying before a committee of state lawmakers.

The eight students representing all four county high schools were in Indianapolis on Tuesday for Tobacco Free Indiana Advocacy Day.

PIE stands for Prevention, Intervention and Education on drugs, alcohol and tobacco. The students at each high school were recently asked to plan a project that centered on an issue they saw in their school community.

Visiting the Indiana Statehouse Tuesday as part of Tobacco Free Indiana Advocacy Day are PIE Coalition representatives (from left) Gayle Baugh of Cloverdale High School, Katie Fry of North Putnam High School, Ava McHugh of South Putnam High School, Grace Fry and Clarissa Gibson of North Putnam, Lauren Hopper of Greencastle High School, Kenzie Stoltz of Cloverdale and Marcus Robinson of South Putnam.

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With vaping seen as a huge issue at each school, the trip to the Statehouse became a chance to learn more about the health issue and what more the state could be doing to help curtail it.

Students making the trip were Gayle Baugh and Kenzie Stoltz of Cloverdale; Lauren Hopper of Greencastle; Grace Fry, Clarissa Gibson and Katie Fry of North Putnam; and Ava McHugh and Marcus Robinson of South Putnam.

Students spent the morning listening to several speakers, including local doctors, community stakeholders and prominent individuals from all across the State of Indiana.

Before lunch students met with District 24 Sen. John Crane (R-Avon), discussing how the new federal law of raising the legal age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21 is a start but more needs to be done.

Crane suggested they take their passion to the next step and testify at the next scheduled hearing.

That hearing came the following day, when the Senate Health and Provider Services Committee was to consider House Bill 1006.

And so Robinson, a junior at South Putnam, made the trip back to Indianapolis to testify befor the committee. Each person was allowed three minutes and instructed to speak only to the issues of the proposed bill.

Robinson’s presentation covered two main areas: No. 1. The legislators needed to increase financial penalties for tobacco retailers who continue to sell products to underage youth. No. 2. To increase prevention and cessation funding for youth.

The committee chairman congratulated Robinson for wanting to share the group’s passion about improving the health and wellbeing of youth all across the State.

PIE Coalition advisor Linda Merkel was also impressed.

“He was so confident. There were probably 30 people in the room — all adults. He was the only student,” Merkel said. “He handled himself in a professional manner.”

Students from all four Putnam County high schools attend a PIE Coalition breakfast meeting one time monthly to discuss issues facing our teens today.

“The PIE coalition is extremely proud of all our youth that participate in this monthly outreach, and their desires to make a difference in our school communities,” Merkel said. “If you would like to know more about our monthly PIE Breakfast meetings, please contact your school student representatives.”