PRESTONSBURG – Millard Middle School has been named the 2009 UNITE Middle School Club of the Year for the Big Sandy region.

The UNITE Excellence Award was presented during the last of three regional Operation UNITE “Piercing the Darkness of Drugs” Youth Summits held Thursday, Sept. 17, in Prestonsburg.

Millard Middle is one of the 34 original UNITE Clubs created during the 2005-06 school year.

Sponsored by Counselor Stephanie Phillips and AmeriCorps member Christen Coleman, the 30-member club was active throughout their school and community spreading the anti-drug message last year.

Their efforts were recognized by the Floyd-Pike ASAP, which awarded the club a $350 grant for programs.

Among the activities conducted last school year was to craft Christmas ornaments for the WestCare Kentucky treatment center. They also used a school-wide poster contest to involve their classmates.

Weather conditions forced some activities – such as participation in the PRIDE Cleanup at Fishtrap Lake – to be canceled, so the club began planning for a big fundraiser to help beautify their school this year. Club members also decided to participate in this summer’s back-to-school bash to promote treatment options for those battling a substance abuse problem.