Nonprofit backs Buffalo Grove High program

In the spring of 2016, Elevate, a student-led empowerment program that encourages healthy life choices, was implemented at Buffalo Grove High School.

Elevate is patterned after John Underwood's nationally-renowned Life of an Athlete program, which was presented at the high school in early 2016. A parent night is coming up for Northwest Suburban High School District 214 parents to learn more about empowerment programs and how their students can benefit from them.

Eight Buffalo Grove High School students and two faculty sponsors founded the Elevate program. Prior to its creation, the group traveled to Lake Placid, New York, in early spring to the Olympic Training Center and attended a conference led by Underwood.

The trip was made possible by support from Northwest suburban-based Link Together Coalition, a nonprofit whose mission aligns with these programs. The organization's goal is to encourage healthy life choices through alcohol and drug-free youth.

Christopher "Kip" North and Matt Myers are the Buffalo Grove High School faculty members who help to oversee the program.

"The Elevate program provides research and information so that students can make educated decisions and choices," North said. "We believe it is more powerful as a student-led program, so that these young people have the opportunity to create, lead and administer for themselves and their peers."

The program is offered not only to athletes, but to all Buffalo Grove High School students who participate in extracurricular activities.

The group's first initiative was to promote healthy lifestyles as part of a "brown bag" snack program. District 214 nutritionists worked directly with students to help them come up with healthy food choices for after school snacks.

Buffalo Grove High School is the first in District 214 to implement a program of this kind. More than 30 students are members and dozens more have shown interest, North said.

The Link Together Coalition will be hosting presentations by Underwood in early November at other District 214 high schools, as well as the parent night, to introduce the Life of an Athlete program. The parent night will be 7 to 9 p.m. in the gymnasium at John Hersey High School, 1900 E. Thomas St., Arlington Heights.

Registration is required, but there is no cost to attend. Individuals can register at www.linktogethercoalition.org.

For information, contact Danielle Brengel, prevention specialist at Link Together Coalition, Danielle.Linktogethercoalition@gmail.com. Learn more at http://www.linktogethercoalition.org/.