More than 150 students from eight of Butler County’s 10 public school districts, plus Badin High School, gathered March 7 at Miami University Middletown to discuss how to make prom and graduation season safer for everyone.

Area law enforcement officials were among 55 adults advising the students on ways to “Be the Influence” on their peers, according to Tom Kelechi, CEO of the Alcohol and Chemical Abuse Council and an organizer of the the event.

Nearly 42 percent of high school seniors said they had consumed alcohol in the past month, according to a 2012 national survey from the National Institute on Drug Abuse. In the same survey, 28 percent of high school sophomores said they had consumed alcohol in the past month.

“We want you to not only survive the next few years of your high school career, but we want you to become community leaders,” Kelechi told the students. “This is an example of the power that you hold.”

The day’s activities also included breakout brainstorming sessions to come up with ways to get the message out for a safe prom season.

“Today is not the end of the project, but the beginning, the day that you devise the strategies to help everyone remain safe,” Kelechi said.

Students heard from Tim Wurster, of Celina, who was in an alcohol-related auto accident in 1985 that killed his older brother and left him paralyzed from the chest down.

“I can’t believe that one choice changed my life in so many ways,” he said.

Hamilton resident Susan Monnin also addressed the students in a tearful plea for safety for their families’ sake. Her 21-year-old son Daniel died two years ago in an alcohol-related drowning accident.

“The point I want to make with you guys is (alcohol) alters the decisions you make,” she said. “Have a great time at the prom. It’s a memorable time and I want you to enjoy it. I love seeing all the pretty dresses and I don’t want to put a damper on your fun, but keep your families in mind.”

Lakota East High School student Kellsa Mbah reported that her group decided to solicit letters from elementary school students urging safety and enclose them in prom ticket packets.

The Talawanda delegates decided to promote alternative activities to drinking and invite Miami University students to come and speak about how to stay alcohol free, according to representative Lizzy Compton.

“Fairfield will be having a grim reaper day and mock crash ended with an assembly where we will talk about safe decisions,” said student Emily Hudson. “We will try to get businesses to put up positive messages, and we are going to have letters sent to limo places.”

The student delegates will continue to communicate with each other and share ideas on a Facebook page, “Be The Influence.”

Butler County Prosecutor Mike Gmoser closed the event by telling the students to listen to the voices in the back of their heads.

“It isn’t about slogans and T-shirts,” he said, “but about listening to the voice that says ‘I know the difference between right and wrong, and this is wrong.’ ”