This year’s Carolyn Ford-Griffith Youth Award was presented to Delhi Middle School. 

At Delhi Middle School, staff, students, and administrators have championed mental wellness in many ways. This school recognizes that many things impact mental wellness and student success. They have focused on evidence-based prevention to support the whole student – increasing attendance, fostering a sense of belonging at school, and strengthening student/teacher relationships. 

The school supports community partnerships, like at Shiloh Preschool, where DMS students volunteer and can positively impact younger kids.  A vaping policy including in-school suspension and evidence-based tobacco prevention, along with student-created social media on the dangers of vaping are ways the school has worked to reduce vaping.

Wellness fairs and a school-based food pantry have helped meet community needs. In every grade, there are daily opportunities for students to learn to better manage stress, be a good friend, share how they think and feel about things that are important to them, and grow confident in who they are and how they can be healthy. 

Emily Scotti, School Counselor at Delhi Middle School accepted the award.