Students and Clarkston Area Youth Assistance showcase programs to the board

Student leaders from the Clarkson chapter of Business Professionals of America addressed the board to describe BPA activities and student benefits. Julia Whitaker, chapter president, said the group supports career-technical education and fields events ranging from finance to media production; she and officers Gavin Perusi, Matthew Drake and Hayden Smith described participation levels (roughly 50–60 students attending regionals, about 30 advancing to state) and how events build career skills.

The board applauded students for qualifying for state-level events and wished them luck for nationals in Nashville.

Clarkston Area Youth Assistance vice chair Judy Ablisser and caseworker Lauren provided an update on CAYA programming. Ablisser highlighted newly launched programs including Music Mash Up (a seven-week after-school program for grades 2–5) and a family-education podcast series on stress and teen-focused topics. Caseworker Lauren described casework activity since July (36 new cases), common issues (vaping, threats, bullying, inappropriate images, truancy) and diversion-style interventions, including assessments required by recent juvenile-justice reform.

Ablisser also noted key outreach dates: Pinwheels kickoff on March 12 at 7:30 a.m. and the Youth Recognition event on April 28 at 7 p.m. at Clarkston High School’s Performing Arts Center. Board members thanked the presenters and asked clarifying questions about referral pathways and program reach.