In a proactive effort to address critical issues affecting today's youth, the Culpeper County High School (CCHS) Graphic Design students have embarked on a groundbreaking project to create a series of hotline posters for our high schools. These posters will be prominently displayed at CCHS and Eastern View High School, offering essential resources and support for students.
The initiative was inspired by the growing public concern about the issue of human trafficking and the need to provide accessible resources to students. Schools already offered hotline posters for other issues that our students face, but they were all different, and not displayed consistently across the schools. Culpeper County Public Schools (CCPS) administration took the lead in brainstorming a comprehensive approach to address multiple issues affecting students.
Executive Director of Student Services, Dr. Russell Houck, enlisted the help of CCHS Graphic Design teacher Barbara Hibbard to work with her students to create a consolidated resource poster. Their task was to create a poster that would include hotline information for suicide and crisis, sexual assault and teen dating violence, human trafficking, as well as mental health and substance abuse. Students Anna Brown, Kayla Bendezu Yagotina, Dustin Coia, Adrianna Falcinelli, and Reagan Wright stepped up to the challenge.
Ms. Hibbard explained, “the students spent months training on iMacs using Adobe Illustrator and then applied their new talents to the artwork and the posters.” The consolidated posters feature QR codes linked to the respective hotlines, providing students with a convenient and discreet way to access help when needed. This innovative approach aims to streamline information and increase the visibility of support services for Culpeper's secondary school students. Once completed, the posters were translated into Spanish, and then English and Spanish versions were printed. The posters will be strategically placed in common areas of both high schools, ensuring maximum visibility.
Houck expressed enthusiasm for the project, stating, "Our students are not just applying their graphic design skills; they are actively contributing to the well-being of their peers. By consolidating these important hotlines into one poster, and publishing them in both English and Spanish, we are providing students with access to the expert resources they may need."
The initiative aligns with the school district's commitment to creating a safe and supportive environment for students. By addressing various issues through a unified awareness campaign, CCPS aims to empower students to seek help and support one another. The project also aligns with the mission of the CCPS Career and Technical Education program to give students hands-on, real-world experiences.
This project not only serves as a testament to the students' creativity but also highlights the collaborative efforts between educators, students, and the community to address crucial societal issues affecting youth.
