Auburn University to host fifth annual Anti-Bullying Summit June 18-19

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Auburn University's Truman Pierce Institute and the Office of Professional and Continuing Education will host the fifth annual Anti-Bullying Summit June 18-19 at the Wyndham Peachtree Conference Center in Peachtree City, Georgia.

The Anti-Bullying Summit will provide teachers, school administrators, parents, community leaders, law enforcement, counselors, social workers and mental health professionals with an opportunity to learn ways to address the pervasive issue of bullying in schools and communities.

This year's program will offer more than 30 break-out sessions that examine a range of topics, such as cyberbullying protection, the correlation between bullying and school violence, school climate rating, community involvement in bullying prevention, diversity training for school implementation, model intervention programs and current research.

Keynote presenters will be Missy Jenkins Smith, Missy Dugan and Ole Pete Key. Missy Smith, who survived a 1997 school shooting in Kentucky that left her paralyzed from the chest down, went on to achieve numerous successes as a counselor for troubled students, a public speaker and a parent. She was named "Kentuckian of the Year" and has appeared on "Oprah," "Dateline" and "Anderson Cooper 360," among others.

Missy Dugan is president and CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta, overseeing 28 clubs in 10 counties serving over 12,000 young people. She will discuss the importance of programs focused on building character and leadership to combat bullying, emphasizing how important it is to bring youth into this conversation, empowering them to create their own campaigns and serve as role models to their peers.

Ole Pete Key is a coach, consultant, international motivational speaker, certified HIV/AIDS instructor and mentor. He has completed consultant work with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. Department of Education and the juvenile justice system, and has spoken at SAMSA (Subtance Abuse and Mental Health Services) and other conferences.

The Mattie C. Stewart Foundation's Choice Bus, a drop-out prevention program that stresses making correct choices, will be on hand June 18. This is one of several sessions suitable for teen attendees at the Summit.

Hero Awards will be presented to individuals and community groups who have taken proactive measures to eliminate bullying in their schools and communities. Those receiving awards will have national as well as local representation. A variety of educational resource vendors that focus on bullying prevention products will be on site.

The Summit has been approved for continuing education hours and PLU credit for educators and social workers. Additional information and registration forms can be found online at www.auburn.edu/antibullying. Early registration rates end May 18. Registration is accepted without payment if a purchase order is provided. For more information, contact Myra Girard in Auburn University's Office of Professional and Continuing Education at (334) 844-3100 or mst0008@auburn.edu.

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