By Quinn O’Hara

Photo Caption: Caption: Aubrey Tadtman, Kylee Shivers, Braylee Langvardt, Adalyn Pfizenmaier, Emma Spellman make their bid for funding for their “You Booze You Lose” campaign

Seven Clay Center Community High School YLinK members and their sponsors are in Chicago, Illinois attending the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America, or CADCA, National Conference. Those seven are Aubrey Tadtman, Kylee Shivers, Braylee Langvardt, Adalyn Pfizenmaier, Emma Spellman, Raegan McDonald, and Isabelle Blackwood.

During the conference, Tadtman, Shivers, Langvardt, Pfizenmaier, and Spellman shared their appeal for funding for their “You Booze You Lose” campaign. The initiative aims to reduce underage drinking in Clay County.

Spellman was one of 10 kids from across the country selected to participate in the event’s talent show. Spellman prepared an interpretive dance which depicted the signs of suicide.

Additionally, McDonald and Blackwood represented Kansas as members of CADCA’s National Youth Advisory Board during the convention.

Also in attendance at the event are roughly 3,000 adults and 500 youth representing every state in the nation and several other countries.

Funding from the Clay Counts Coalition made the trip possible. Lori Martin, the Coalition’s Community Mobilizer, said, “Our community can be so proud to have these fine young adults finding their voices and using them for the greater good of our community and country.”