KUNI kickoff a success

October 21, 2009


Photo by Amanda Mlikan
Photo by Amanda Mlikan

By Marlo Koch

Entertainment Editor

KUNI (Knights Under No Influence) held their annual pledge to remain drug and alcohol free for all students on Wednesday, Oct. 21 in the cafeteria.
This year, there was a new sponsor, English teacher Nicole Warren as well as a guest speaker, social studies teacher John Camardella.

“I’m not hear to lecture with you. I’m hear to reason with you,” Camardella said at the beginning of his speech. During the five-minute speech, he shared an emotional story about his good friend being killed as an effect of drinking and making poor choices.

Social studies teacher John Camardella speaks during KUNI T-shirt distribution on Wedenesday.
Social studies teacher John Camardella speaks during KUNI T-shirt distribution on Wednesday.

Camerdella told the students that “I used to be the youngest teacher at Prospect. I’m not that far removed from high school.” In other words, he has been in the student body’s shoes, where drinking and using drugs are a temptation most every high school student encounters.
Many of the students only attend KUNI for the free tee-shirts, and in the past the event has been a sort of free-for-all, said Warren before Camerdella’s speech.
This year, students listened to the speech, flashed their Prospect ID, signed a pledge stating they would remain drug and alcohol free and then got their shirt. All of the students listened attentively during the speech and were respectful to all those involved.
There were hundreds of students present and 500 T-shirts available, but there was only one powerful guest speaker.