Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Education Awarded Grant fromGovernor's Office of Highway Safety

VALDOSTA -- Valdosta State University’s Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Education has been awarded a grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) for the eighth consecutive year. This year’s $7,060 grant will be used to purchase promotional items and peer education resources, as well as provide opportunities for students to attend peer-related conferences.

“Without the funds provided by the GOHS grant, we would not be able to offer the valuable experience of attending educational conference to our students,” said Mark Williams, coordinator for The Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Education.

The grant funds provided by the GOHS are used to purchase promotional items such as sports water bottles and pens and support existing initiatives. For a number of years students have been receiving a letter from the Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Education coordinator and a key-chain in the shape of the state of Georgia as a reminder of the responsibilities and privileges of turning 21, which are purchased with grants funds.

The Office of Alcohol and Other Drug Education is affiliated with the Bacchus Network, a national organization dedicated to providing training for peer educators. Each spring a member school hosts the Area Nine Conference that is made up of Georgia, South Carolina, Florida and Puerto-Rico. Grant funds are used to pay for the conference registration, lodging, transportation and food for the peer education students. In addition to hearing nationally recognized speakers, students are able to network with other peer educators and learn what is being done on other campuses.

For more information about the grant, please contact Williams at mfwillia@valdosta.edu.