By Liz Beavers
lbeavers@newstribune.info
managing editor
KEYSER — Three Keyser High School students who are looking to take their special project for a second round at state-level competition are hoping the project will also have a positive effect on their fellow students.
In fact, they have a whole week of events planned around it.
It all started when Brian Staggers decided to do a science project last year “to see what level of knowledge teens had about different aspects of sex and the side effects.”
Calling the results eye-opening, he said he was especially interested in “how little people know about STDs.”
As a result, he and friend Logan DelSignore decided to turn Staggers’ science project into a project on sexually transmitted diseases for DECA competition.
They were joined in the project by Vanessa Silbaugh, who created a number of informational posters to illustrate various statistics about the diseases.
The project won first place last year in statewide
DECA competition, earning the students the right to represent the state of West Virginia at the national convention in Atlanta.
This year, the students are continuing to build upon the project, and that is where their observance of STD Awareness Week this week comes into play.
“We’re going to Q94 to record some public service announcements,” DelSignore said, noting that he radio station is donating time slots for the announcements.
The students will also be offering bits of information during the daily announcements at school, and will be visiting various classes to make presentations on the topic.
Notes will be left on random lockers throughout the week, and those students who turn in the notes will receive a prize.
The three students planned to visit local businesses this past weekend to solicit prizes for the giveaways.
They are also planning to take their project to state-level competition with the hopes of a second first-place award.
“We’re going to be at state on Feb. 28, and nationals are April 28 to May 3,” Silbaugh said.
Although they say some have questioned the topic which the students decided to tackle, the project has “gotten the support of our local DECA chapter,” Staggers said.
They all three give credit and thanks to DECA instructor Jeannie Gurtler for her assistance and support.
