Communities in Schools members attend summer conference in Conroe

Ashley Guel, Panther Growls staff member
September 11, 2018

Five young ladies from Lufkin High School attended the Texas Say What! Tobacco-Free Conference at the La Torreta Lake & Resort Spa in Conroe this past summer.

Communities in Schools members from Lufkin High School who attended the Texas Say What Tobacco-Free Conference in Conroe this past summer included, from left to right, Iris Rojo, Julissa Villegas, Diana Orta, Guadalupe Renteria and Nayely Alday.

Dolores Perez, Communities in Schools sponsor for the high school, encouraged all 95 of her students to apply for a scholarship to attend the event. Of the 12 Lufkin CIS students who applied, five were chosen.

Nayely Alday, Diana Orta, Guadalupe Renteria, Iris Rojo and Julissa Villegas earned scholarships worth $450 each to attend the conference, which was held from July 29-Aug. 1.

More than 300 students from districts across Texas come together at the conference to learn about living a tobacco-free life, attend workshops and take part in breakout sessions.

All year, CIS students participate in a canned food drive, a Clothes Closet, Thanksgiving baskets and other activities. The goal of the organization is to encourage students to stay in school and achieve success in life.