SHOCCO SPRINGS — More than 420 students from all over Alabama came to Shocco Springs Baptist Conference Center in Talladega Thursday morning to participate in the seventh annual Youth Rally for Awareness, which is part of the Focus Program funded by the Alabama Department of Public Health.

According to Sue Jones, director of the statewide program, Focus “emphasizes student lead prevention of adolescent risk. We teach the students and help develop their leadership skills. They can participate either as an elective or as an extracurricular activity. We started nine years ago and we’re currently in 42 counties, but our goal is all 67 counties.”

Students from 24 schools in 18 counties (including Eden Career Technical Center, Alabama School for the Deaf, Hope Academy and Sylacauga High School in Talladega) took part in the 2010 rally.

Thursday’s first keynote speaker was Fox 6 sportscaster Jeh-Jeh Pruitt, discussing issues of childhood obesity at the chapel.

The rest of the morning was taken up with breakout sessions in the Bagley Center covering topics such as abductions and internet predators, a health fair, energy drinks, drug use, nutrition and fitness, teen pregnancy, distracted driving and Alabama’s infant mortality rate.

After lunch, Jones said, the students would be addressed by the day’s second keynote speaker, Kamaria Gammon, on “Living with HIV/AIDS.”

Gammon, of Orlando, Fla., is HIV positive herself. “She really emphasizes the importance of postponing the sex act and avoiding drug use,” Jones said.

Three of the schools, including Sylacauga High, won free registration for 20 based on prevention activities or projects, according to a brochure.

The program in Sylacauga is facilitated by counselor Carol Sprayberry. “Each fall, Sylcauga High School students surveys the ninth and twelfth graders with an assessment based on the youth risk behavior survey,” according to the brochure. “This past November, they held an assembly for ninth graders. The assembly included a drama, announced the survey results, and hosted Tom Robertson as a guest speaker who shared information about HIV/AIDS and STDs. At the end of the assembly, Focus Program members led a question and answer session…For Red Ribbon Week, Sylacauga High School had two students visit a middle school and present a monologue testimony about their drug and alcohol problems at home with parents or other family members and friends. At the end of the monologue, the students revealed that their testimony had been an enactment of some real problems that do exist in families today. The Sylacauga High School Focus Program also passed out red ribbons to wear and made daily PA announcements.”

Sprayberry, Tyler Laye, Christie Caine and Lisa Reaves of SHS were the facilitators for the breakout session on teen pregnancy. Alex Terrell, Caroline Clark, Taylor Malone and Cass Curtis were the student presenters.