Teens Receive Friday Night Live Scholarships for 2019
Author: Frank Warren
Date: 5/15/2019 2:29 PM
Friday Night Live (FNL), a program of the Behavioral Health Department’s Prevention & Outreach Division, honored nine local high school seniors with scholarships. Scholarships were awarded at the program’s annual FNL Banquet, held Thursday, May 9th in San Luis Obispo.
The FNL Scholarship is designed to honor students who have led positive, healthy lifestyles free of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs during high school, and have been awarded since 1999. This year’s applicants exemplified the remarkable accomplishments of local high school students.
The FNL Board of Directors provided $500 awards to Abigail Fugle (Morro Bay HS), Shafaq Bhatti (Morro Bay HS), Justine Allen-Boston (Morro Bay HS), Suraya Jabaieh (Morro Bay HS), Samantha Gibbs (SLO HS), Rianna Ader (SLO HS), Karly Dumont (Templeton HS), and Lynea Valencia (Shandon HS) at the ceremony held at King David’s Masonic Lodge in San Luis Obispo. Madeline Booker (Morro Bay HS) received a $750 scholarship, given in the name of Casey Goodwin, a 20-year-old Cuesta College student and active youth alcohol-prevention advocate, who was killed by a drunk driver in March, 2003. These deserving seniors were recognized for their advocacy, leadership, and commitment to healthy lifestyles for their peers.
Friday Night Live is a non-profit youth development and prevention program for teens, in cooperation with the County of SLO Behavioral Health Department, providing positive activities and education for students throughout the county. Funding for the FNL Scholarship has been made possible by donations from fundraisers and private donations. Seniors were also awarded blue and gold graduation cords to symbolize their commitment to FNL during high school.
The banquet was attended by FNL chapter members from middle and high schools across the county, their parents, FNL faculty advisors, community partners, school administration, and Behavioral Health staff. Chapters and advisors were recognized for their hard work over the past school year in preventing substance use and promoting mental wellness, and each chapter had the opportunity to highlight one of their stand-out projects from the year.
The program also celebrated its outstanding community partner of the year with the “Friends of FNL” award. Superior Court Judge Matthew Guerrero was honored for his on-going support and commitment to county youth.
Follow FNL on Facebook (facebook.com/slo.fnl) and Instagram (@slofnl) to see photos of the event, and future activities with FNL.
