Minuteman High School Students Learn About Staying "Above the Influence" of Drugs and Alcohol

Shown in photo from left to right are Lincoln Police Chief Kevin Kennedy, Minuteman Electrical student Arthur Chekmeyan of Watertown, Middlesex Partnership for Youth Prevention and Education Coordinator Jamie Kluft, Minuteman Educational Psychologist Mary Bruno, Lincoln Police School Resource Officer Detective Ian Spencer, Lincoln Police Lieutenant Sean Kennedy and Mike Ferullo of the Bulldog Running Club

Photo courtesy Brian Tildsley

Staying “above the influence” of drugs and alcohol was the theme of two recent presentations at Minuteman High School in Lexington, in collaboration with the Middlesex District Attorney’s office. Both events focused on avoiding the dangers of substance abuse, with an emphasis on the challenging decisions many adolescents face every day.

Middlesex Partnership for Youth (MPY) Prevention and Education Coordinator Jamie Klufts was the keynote speaker. She discussed marijuana and alcohol abuse, as well as the opiate epidemic in Massachusetts. MPY is a non-profit organization which closely partners with the District Attorney’s office. Chaired by Middlesex County District Attorney Marian Ryan, it provides training and develops programs that safeguard the health and safety of students in Middlesex County.

“Our relationship with MPY and DA Ryan’s office has always been very important to us at Minuteman,” said Assistant Principal Brian Tildsley. “It is an important organization for a school like ours, where the well-being of our students is a priority.”

Another speaker with a powerful message was Mike Ferullo, founder and coach of the Pine Street Inn’s Bulldog Running Club. For the past seven years, that organization has helped people replace their dependence upon drugs and alcohol with the healthy exhilaration that comes from running.

The students also listened to one of their own – Minuteman junior Arthur Chekmeyan of Watertown, who spoke compellingly about his struggle with addiction and how he got clean and sober. “It took a lot of courage for Arthur to talk in front of his peers that way,” said Assistant Principal Tildsley. “He was honest about his difficulties over the years. The pride he feels about how rewarding his life is now resonated with the students in the audience.”

Representatives from the Lincoln and Lexington Police Departments were present, along with Minuteman Principal Jack Dillon. He said, “We just wanted to get this message out to our entire student body. They need to have the right information so they can make healthy choices.”

Principal Dillon praised the work of his staff. “They all do a great job with our students, but I’m especially proud of Educational Psychologist Mary Bruno and Brian Tildsley. They put in a lot of time and effort on this project. I was also moved by Arthur Chekmeyan’s message. He deserves a lot of credit.”

Minuteman is an award-winning regional high school that gives students a competitive advantage by delivering robust academics and powerful career and technical skills. This combination gives students a competitive edge in the new economy.

Minuteman prepares students for college and career success, with more than 60% of the school’s graduates typically pursuing a post-secondary education.