Nikki Kelly, along with 66 other Texas students, talk tobacco policy with legislators
By Billy Loftin
Tuesday, March 31, 2009 at 11:41 a.m.
Read more: Local, State, Politics, Education, Community, Amarillo, Texas, Texas Panhandle, Amarillo High School, Texas Youth Summit, Smoking, Tobacco, Nikki Kelly
AMARILLO, TEXAS -- Nikki Kelly, a junior at Amarillo High School (AHS), attended and participated in a very important summit in Austin this past week.
More than 60 Texas students met with legislators about tobacco-related policies in Texas, and relayed concerns and ideas to lawmakers.
Kelly, the only representative from Amarillo, enjoyed the opportunity to learn from the legislators and meet other students.
(I enjoyed being able) "To go to Austin to learn all the stuff about the tobacco prevention and to meet and build relationships with kids across Texas who are also invested in the cause," said Nikki Kelly, AHS Junior.
The trip will lead to a larger role in the Amarillo community for Kelly, she hopes.
"I hope to be able to talk to Tobacco Free Amarillo -- they're the ones who paid for my trip -- to be able to talk to them and hopefully get more involved with them and also to help our S.A.D.D. club," said Kelly.
S.A.D.D. stands for Sandies Against Destructive Decisions, and the students involved stand against tobacco, alcohol and other drugs that create destructive situations for teenagers.
The Texas Youth Summit opens the dialogue between students and lawmakers, a relationship that can yield positive change in Texas policy. The legislators are very open to the students ideas and try to look at ways the ideas might be applied.
"Sen. Seliger really likes the ideas -- he just doesn't want to do it on a state level. He thinks it would be better on the local level, and then Rep. Smithee was very receptive and talked like they were going to try to get them through," said Kelly.
