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Students present Sources of Strength peer-support program at Viroqua Area School District meeting
Summary
Students and adult advisers described Sources of Strength activities — retreats, guidance lessons, drives and peer-led campaigns — and told the board the program is grant-funded and includes roughly 20–30 student leaders who meet about once a month.
Students and adult advisers told the Viroqua Area School District board about Sources of Strength, a student-led program designed to connect peers and support mental well-being.
Student speakers described retreats, classroom guidance lessons and schoolwide campaigns the group has run, including a food-and-supplies drive for the student pantry and a card-making visit to a local nursing home. "We're a little about hope," one student said, summarizing the program's focus on compassionate, peer-to-peer support. Adult advisers Jamie Reese and Whitney Beckrand said the program concentrates on student leadership and peer-to-peer outreach; Reese described Sources of Strength activities as "student-led" and noted advisers support but do not run events.
Board members asked about membership and meeting frequency; advisers said participation typically ranges between about 20 and 30 students and the group attempts to meet monthly, with activity spikes around campaign events. The advisers said Sources of Strength programming at both the middle and high school levels is grant-funded and currently costs the district no additional operating dollars.
Board members praised the student presenters and encouraged broader outreach to promote the program, noting that better social-media and community messaging could help recruit students who are not already involved. The board thanked the students for presenting and invited them to contact members if they need support for fundraising or outreach.
The presentation occurred during the board's public meeting; no formal action was taken.
