As juniors and seniors settled into their seats at the Pre-Prom assembly, sophomore TASC President Cara Custer introduced junior Delegates Soo Yang and Tori Stepanek to announce the 2009 Prom court. When all the court was announced, Officer Fitzgerald briefly spoke about the night of prom.

Fitzgerald announced that the police department is aware that Saturday night will be the night of prom and will be on patrol to catch any drunk drivers. He also announced that there will be DWI checkpoints around St. Charles County to check, and there will be a Breathalyzer at prom to check for any signs on intoxication. If a student is found under the influence they will be arrested and sent home. If any student is pulled over and arrested for drunk driving throughout the night, Officer Fitzgerald will be notified and the district will be informed.

Senior Ashley Campise talked at the assembly about her experience being arrested for drunk driving. It was 3 a.m., and she thought she was fine to drive home. She was almost home when an undercover cop pulled her over and asked her to step out of the car. After a sobriety test, the cop asked her to turn around and put her hands behind her back. She went to the police station and was booked and stamped; she had to call her mom.

“It was the hardest phone call I ever had to make in my life,” Campise said.

Campise wasn’t the only one getting emotional during the speech; students and staff were tearing up at her message: that this completely can change a life and no one is invincible.

“I know when she said that the cop said ‘Ashley, turn around and put your hands behind your back,’ I got goose bumps,“ TASC President Cara Custer said. “Because it was like I was her for that split second.”

TASC also made a slide show of pictures students submitted. After the show, members passed out the student surprise. The surprise was letters students received from their parents or staff members reminding them that they are important.

“What I really hoped for was just to let some kids know that even though they weren’t the best athlete or student, they still are important to the FHN community,” freshman Courtney Rice said.

TASC started doing these assemblies about four years ago when four boys decided to race on Hwy 94 after drinking. Two boys watched their best friends die in a crash. The letters handed out at the assembly were the work of the TASC members calling all the juniors and seniors’ homes over spring break. Contacting parents, and the parents they couldn’t get a hold of, they asked teachers to write the student a letter, showing them that they matter and they have and will further make a difference.