On January 11, 2010, Bill Brunette, President of Drug-Free Action Alliance Board of Directors, surprised Amy Macechko with this year’s Enrique Camarena Award at a Talawanda Board of Education Meeting in Oxford, Ohio.  She was recognized for her exceptional work in prevention.

Macechko serves as the Health and Wellness Coordinator for the Talawanda School District in Oxford, Ohio, yet her prevention efforts stretch well beyond the school grounds. She has played an integral role in spreading awareness to families throughout Butler County on our state’s social hosting laws through the Parents Who Host, Lose The Most: Don’t be a party to teenage drinking campaign and providing parents with the information and action steps they need through the implementation of the Know! Program. She is also excellent at getting the attention of her students as she continues to make Red Ribbon Week a fun-filled, interactive and exciting event for all through a variety of contests and community outreach.

It was noted in her nomination that Macechko has a passion for prevention that can reach and ignite the “fire” for others. In fact, Drug-Free Action Alliance uses Amy Macechko as a “best-practice” example for its Know! program.  She even recruited high school students to assist her in creating a five-minute video piece on how to best utilize this parent education program.  This video is shared throughout Ohio.

She also works closely with a highly respected pediatrician, Dr. Ellen Buerk, and has made various appearances and spoken many times about the Know! program to varied audiences, including experts in the health field. Macechko has also organized and hosted many community meetings to address the dangers of underage drinking.

Drug-Free Action Alliance is honored to have Ms. Macechko as the current recipient of this prestigious award.

Bill Brunette, President of Drug-Free Action Alliance Board of Directors

and Amy Macechko