Community Board
Executive Committee:
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Wendy Cummings, RN BSN– Chair
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Jim Berl, Esq. – Treasurer
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Francine Norz-Tobin, Esq. – Recording Secretary
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Loretta Novince, Ph.D. – LCAHY Consultant/DFC Grant Principal Investigator
Community Board:
Our community board is strongly represented throughout the areas of Hilton Head Island and Bluffton. Each member represents a sector, as seen below, creating a catalyst of knowledge, skills, and passions to create change and actively pursue decreasing substance use/abuse and related risk behaviors among local area youth.
Community Board Members:
​Wendy Cummings, RN BSN
Health Professional: Cross Schools
James Berl, Esq.
Youth Serving Organization: Island Rec Center​
Francine Norz-Tobin, Esq.
Government: 14th Circuit Solicitors Office
Loretta Novince, Ph.D.
Health Professionals: Psychologist
David Martin
Business: Piggly Wiggly
Erin Pawlak
Health Professional
Aviana Stevens
Youth
Pastor Geoffrey Lawson
Faith-Based Sector
Sgt. Cecil Lancaster
Law Enforcement: Bluffton PD
Joy Nelson
Media
Susie Maurer
Health Professional
Cheryl Rodriguez
Parent
Cara Vercellone
Civic Sector
Lt. Craig Washington
Law Enforcement: SRO/Beaufort Co. Sheriffs Dep.
Grey Cummings-Yeager
School: Cross Schools
Sgt. Christopher Wilson
Law Enforcement: Bluffton PD
Brandon Sligh
School: Bluffton High School
Jessica Hunt
School: Hilton Head Prep
Jennifer Weitekamper
School: Hilton Head Island High School
Laura Fuller
School: Hilton Head Island High School
Megan Robbins
School: Hilton Head Christian Academy
Gail Bradford
School: May River High School
Tiffany King
School: Bluffton Middle School
Lauren Borack
School: Hilton Head Christian Academy
Dr. Pearl Mitchell
School: May River High School
Laura Van Houten
School: Bluffton Middle School
Emerald Bowman
School: H.E. McCracken Middle School
Amy Rodea
School: H.E. McCracken Middle School
Zoe Greene
School: River Ridge Academy
Torri McCullough
School: River Ridge Academy
Benjamin Jacoby
School: River Ridge Academy
Staff:
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Laura Pirkey, M.Ed – DFC Grant Program Director/ Teens for Healthy Youth Coordinator
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Kathy Brookshire, MPH – Co-DFC Grant Project Coordinator
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Katherine Sanchez, M.A. – Co-DFC Grant Project Coordinator
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THY School Advisors:
Bluffton High School - Laura Pirkey & Brandon Sligh
Cross Schools - Wendy Cummings, Grey Anne Cummings-Yeager
Hilton Head Christian Academy - Megan Robbins & Lauren Borack
Hilton Head Island High School - Jenifer Weitekamper & Laura Fuller
May River High School - Dr. Pear Mitchell & Gail Bradford
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Bluffton Middle School - Laura Van Houten & Tiffany King
H.E. McCraken Middle School - Amy Rodea & Emerald Bowman
Hilton Head Middle School - TBD
Hilton Head Prep Middle School - Jessica Hunt
River Ridge Academy - Torri McCullough, Zoe Greene, & Jacoby Benjamin
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Student Interns:​​​
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USCB - Ethan Barrera - Annual Intern 2024, 2025
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THY - May River High School - Abigail Copcutt - Summer 2025
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THY - Bluffton High School - Sarah Lawson - Summer 2025
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THY - Bluffton High School - Victoria De Armas - Summer 2025
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THY - Hilton Head Island High School - Aishling Lewis - Summer 2025
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USCB - Department of Public Health - Lenora Leslie-Wright - Spring 2025
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USCB - Department of Public Health - Natalie Barnett - Fall 2024
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THY - Hilton Head Christian Academy - Juliet Blackwell - Summer 2024
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THY - Hilton Head Christian Academy - Sophia Blackwell - Summer 2024
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THY - May River High School - Ashlyn Elrod - Summer 2024
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THY - Bluffton High School - Aviana Stevens - Summer 2024
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THY - Cross Schools - Aya Banigbe - Summer 2024
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CofC - Ella McCarthy - Summer 2024
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USCB - Department of Public Health - Jaci Coleman - Fall 2023
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THY - Bluffton High School, Ben Vaught and Amber VanHorn - Summer 2023
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THY - Cross Schools, Payton Ward - Summer 2023
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THY - Hilton Head Preparatory - Jacob Pirkey - Summer 2023
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THY - Hilton Head Christian Academy - Jillian Campanella - Summers 2022, 2023
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THY - Bluffton High School - Anna Gustowski - Fall/Winter 2022
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THY - Bluffton High School - Emily Henderson - Winter 2023
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THY - May River High School, Kylie Nelson – Fall 2021/ Spring 2022
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USCB - Grey Cummings – Spring 2021
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USCB - Department of Public Health, Parker Sellers – Spring 2020
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USCB - Department of Public Health, Tia Bowers & Ti Gilliard – Spring/Summer 2019
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Liberty University - Adelynn Helms – Summer 2019