Pineville Middle School’s UNITE Club has been selected as a UNITE Club of the Year for Region 2.

The club was one of nine recognized for their exceptional programs during the 2011-12 school year.

To qualify, each club submitted a scrapbook showcasing their monthly activities, service projects and mentoring activities. Scrapbooks were judged in elementary, middle and high school categories to determine the regional winners.

Winning clubs will be awarded an additional $750 funding for anti-drug activities during the 2012-13 school year and members will be treated to a pizza party by Operation UNITE.

“Participation in UNITE Clubs increases the students’ protective factors, such as positive role models, high self-esteem, healthy lifestyles, high student achievement, and positive relationships,” said Debbie Trusty, UNITE education director.

“Students participate in service projects at school and in the community that are aimed at increasing their awareness of civic responsibility and development of leadership qualities,” Trusty said. “UNITE Clubs give students the opportunity to practice resistance skills at their school and in their community.”

There were 95 registered UNITE Clubs in 23 counties during the 2011-12 school year. These clubs had 6,841 student members.

UNITE Clubs help youth develop healthy attitudes and behaviors by learning and practicing life skills, enhancing academic performance, connecting peers, adults, communities and learning through service.

Youth are involved in developing and conducting activities designed to help make their schools and communities healthy and drug-free as well as mentoring younger students.

UNITE Club of the Year Winners are:

Region 1 — Mt. Vernon Elementary School (Rockcastle County), Rockcastle County Middle School and Rockcastle County High School.

Region 2 — Hayes-Lewis Elementary School (Leslie County), tie: Pineville Middle School (Bell County) and Whitesburg Middle School (Letcher County).

Region 3 — Rogers Elementary School (Wolfe County), Johns Creek Middle School (Pike County) and Belfry High School (Pike County).

For more information about UNITE Clubs visit the Operation UNITE website at www.operationunite.org.

In 2003, Fifth District Congressman Harold “Hal” Rogers (R-Somerset) worked to create Operation UNITE, a regional anti-drug initiative empowering citizens groups and community leaders in 32 southern and eastern Kentucky counties. UNITE, which stands for Unlawful Narcotics Investigations, Treatment & Education, seeks to fight the drug epidemic by expanding drug awareness and education programs to keep people from using drugs; coordinating drug treatment and outreach programs for those who are already addicted; and operating regional undercover law enforcement task forces for interdiction and prosecution of those dealing drugs. For more information contact Karen Kelly toll-free at 1-866-678-6483.