Henrietta Lacks Bioscience High School, Washington
6 students
Advisor: Jennifer Cunningham
Students across the country are stepping up to solve real challenges in their communities. At Henrietta Lacks Bioscience High School, a team of students saw a need and took action—demonstrating the power of leadership, creativity, and perseverance. Their project, Rise Above Addiction, is a testament to what’s possible when young leaders take charge.
The Need: Concerned about rising drug use among their peers, this team identified an increase in vaping on school property as a key issue. They initially set a goal to raise funds for vape detectors in school restrooms, believing this would help address the problem.
The Project: Students launched an awareness campaign by designing and displaying posters about the dangers of vaping addiction. They also planned to present their fundraising proposal to the school board. However, after discussions with the principal, they discovered that vape detectors had already been installed. Rather than stopping there, they pivoted their efforts toward drug abuse education and support.
Determined to make a meaningful impact, they created a website called Rise Above Addiction, providing information on drug abuse prevention and access to support services. Posters with QR codes linking directly to the website were hung in the hallway. They partnered with the school’s drug and alcohol counselor and designed business cards with her contact information. These cards, strategically placed in campus restrooms, offered students quick and discreet access to valuable resources.
The Results: This project reinforced an important lesson: sometimes, the best way to create change is by enhancing existing resources rather than reinventing the wheel. By shifting their focus to education and awareness, the team helped students connect with vital support services. Nearly all of the business cards were picked up, and the website saw a notable increase in traffic.
Building on this success, the team plans to establish an official Rise Above Addiction club and host a school-wide movie night to further promote drug and alcohol awareness. With a $487.78 grant from Lead4Change, they will be able to bring their vision to life, ensuring their impact continues to grow.
Empowering Students to Lead with Purpose
These students didn’t just have a great idea—they had the leadership skills to bring it to life. That’s exactly what Lead4Change is all about.
Lead4Change is a free leadership curriculum that helps middle and high school students:
✅ Identify real needs in their communities
✅ Develop creative solutions
✅ Take meaningful action
Just like the students behind Rise Above Addiction, your students have the potential to create real change—they just need the right tools.
Bring Leadership to Your Classroom
Help your students lead, serve, and make a difference with our free, ready-to-use curriculum.
Every student has the potential to be a great leader who gets big things done. Lead4Change unlocks that potential—empowering them to see a problem, take action, and create lasting impact in their communities.
Already using Lead4Change? We’d love to hear your stories of impact. Send us an email, or find us on social.