December 9, 2003

Contact:
Jennifer Meriam, Director
(954) 262-5355
Mara Kiffin, Coordinator
(954) 262-5350
Elizabeth Ninomiya, Specialist
(954) 262-5309

University School Of Nova Southeastern University To Host
Drug And Alcohol Prevention Program

FORT LAUDERDALE, FL - University School of Nova Southeastern University (NSU) will host a drug and alcohol prevention and education program for its Upper School students (grades 9-12) on Monday, December 15 at 1:15 p.m. in the Rose & Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center on NSU’s main campus.

The keynote speaker will be Dr. Joshua Perper, Chief Medical Examiner of Broward County, who will present current information on the subject, along with statistics and graphic autopsy photos as a concrete reminder of the tragic results from drunk driving accidents and drug overdoses. In addition, John H., a speaker appearing on behalf of Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), will tell his story about a DUI conviction in 1998 after his birthday celebration turned deadly. The Dania Beach resident didn’t realize that his blood alcohol level was over the legal limit when he crashed into another car, killing its 17-year old driver. His remorse over the accident has influenced him to speak to audiences and describe the event and its tragic outcome. Also appearing will be two teenage clients from “The Starting Place,” an adolescent drug treatment center in Hollywood, FL, to share their personal histories of recreational drug and alcohol abuse that lead to life-threatening addictions.

“ It should be an unforgettable assembly. This ‘in your face’ program is just what we need before Christmas vacation,” said Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) Chapter Co-President David Fishman, 17, of Hollywood.

To help students see first-hand the destruction driving under the influence can cause, a severely damaged late-model sports car recently involved in a deadly DUI crash will be on display at the entrance to the auditorium.

For more information on University School of NSU’s drug and alcohol prevention program, please contact Hillary Gurman at (954) 262-4446, or gurmanh@nova.edu.

University School of Nova Southeastern University is a private pre-kindergarten through 12th grade college preparatory school located on NSU’s main campus in Fort Lauderdale, FL. The school was founded in 1971 as a university-based laboratory school, and has grown into one of the largest, most successful independent college preparatory schools in Florida, winning a designation as a Blue Ribbon School of Excellence by the Department of Education for its Lower School. For more information on University School of NSU, visit http://uschool.nova.edu