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Since the founding of the Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) club 42 years ago, Wayland High School students have continued the work of encouraging healthy decision making through the club. Each spring, the senior club leaders pass down leadership roles to the next class. For the 2024-2025 school year, six current juniors will lead the SADD club. Join Staff Reporter Vanessa Taxiarchis as she interviews the new SADD leaders.
Junior Luke DiPietro-Froio:
When did you join SADD?
“I joined SADD in October of 2023.”
What are you excited about?
“I’m excited for Safe Driving Week and to put together other events with the other SADD leaders because I think we can work well together.”
Why did you want to become a leader?
“I wanted to be able to spread awareness about how to prevent destructive decision making. I also felt like I could make an impact on advancing the club and spreading it to more students within the high school.”
Junior Jackie Rainville:
When did you join SADD?
“I joined my freshman year.”
What are you excited about?
“I’m excited for Safe Driving Week because there are a lot of fun activities that simultaneously teach people a lot about how to drive safely.”
Why did you want to become a leader?
“I wanted to become a SADD leader because I’ve been a member since freshman year. I’ve seen all the work the leaders have done, and I think it’s had a big impact on the community. I wanted to be a part of that and continue to spread the goals of SADD.”
Junior Michael Keenan:
When did you join SADD?
“I joined SADD at the beginning of my junior year.”
What are you excited about?
“I am excited to run events and fundraisers that will hopefully help to grow the club and make it more popular so that the message behind SADD can be spread.”
Why did you want to become a leader?
“I wanted to become a SADD leader because I really stand behind the morals that the club follows and I think it’s a really good cause.”
Junior Cate Ellenbogen:
When did you join SADD?
“I joined SADD in my freshman year.”
What are you excited about?
“The other SADD leaders and I have planned a bunch of things for the school year, including a visit to the police station, the annual SADD car wash and the safe driving week. I’m really excited for those.”
Why did you want to become a leader?
“I wanted to become a SADD leader because I have always enjoyed going to the club meetings and I really wanted to spread the message that SADD sends out.”
Junior Venezia Sebastianelli:
When did you join SADD?
“I joined SADD my freshman year.”
What are you excited about?
“I am excited to lead the club and to run fundraisers and events. I am also excited to make an impact on our school and influence students to be safe.”
Why did you want to become a leader?
“I wanted to become a SADD leader because this club is really important to me. I want to make a real impact and being a leader will help me do that.”
Junior Jillian Mele:
When did you join SADD?
“I joined SADD my freshman year.”
What are you excited about?
“I’m really excited to have some new members of SADD join the club and for us to have an environment where we can be comfortable and focus on what we need to do.”
Why did you want to become a leader?
“I wanted to become a leader because since freshman year I have seen what the clubs stands for and it means a lot to me. Also, all of my siblings were club leaders.”
