Quick look: More than 400 students, educators and families recently attended OCDE’s Friday Night Live Chapter Recognition Ceremony, celebrating youth-led efforts to promote healthy choices. Honorees included chapters from Cypress High and Ralston Intermediate, along with Panorama Elementary teacher Kristin Cowan.
Two student-led chapters and one exceptional advisor were recently honored at the Irvine Barclay Theater during the Friday Night Live Partnership’s annual Chapter Recognition Ceremony, an event celebrating youth-led efforts to promote healthy choices and positive behaviors.
Cypress High School in the Anaheim Union High School District and Ralston Intermediate School in the Garden Grove Unified School District received chapter excellence awards for advancing substance use prevention and student leadership initiatives on their campuses.
Panorama Elementary School teacher Kristin Cowan was also recognized with the advisor excellence award for the impact she has made in nurturing leadership and community-minded efforts through the FNL Kids program.
The OCDE-led ceremony on May 12 welcomed more than 400 students, educators and families representing 27 FNL chapters across Orange County. These chapters have led creative campaigns focused on drug prevention, mental health awareness, kindness and community service.
Launched in 1992, the Orange County Department of Education’s Friday Night Live Partnership encourages young people to positively influence their peers by leading alcohol and drug prevention campaigns and service-based projects. The program includes three levels — Friday Night Live for high school students, Club Live for middle schoolers and FNL Kids for upper-elementary students — all supported by dedicated advisors through school clubs or community-based organizations.
This year’s event featured opening remarks from County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Stefan Bean and a keynote address from youth motivational speaker David Edward Garcia. Members of the Orange County Youth Council served as the evening’s emcees.
“It was a fantastic event to close out the school year and celebrate student leaders who are working hard to keep their peers, schools and communities safe and healthy,” said Elke Petras, OCDE coordinator of Youth Development Programs.
Additional recognition went to La Quinta High School FNL, Ralston Intermediate Club Live and Pendleton Elementary FNL Kids, which were each named winners of this year’s chapter display contest in their respective categories.
Take a closer look at this year’s Friday Night Live award winners:
Chapter Excellence Award Recipients
Cypress High School, Friday Night Live
Since its launch just three years ago, the Cypress High School Friday Night Live chapter has experienced remarkable growth, now averaging 50 members at each of its bimonthly meetings. The club’s student leaders have combined creativity and enthusiasm into a range of activities, including Red Ribbon Week, mental health awareness events and after-school game nights.
To support growing participation, club leaders partnered with the school’s nutrition services to have lunches delivered directly to their meeting space in order to ensure students wouldn’t miss out while waiting in cafeteria lines. Due to the chapter’s popularity, the group has even installed a video screen outside their meeting room to accommodate overflow.
With support from advisor and teacher Shelley Hawkins, the students have created an energetic space where peers can connect and engage in fun, educational substance use prevention activities like their standout haunted house during the Halloween season. Their collaboration and dedication continue to set a strong example for youth leadership on campus.
Ralston Intermediate School, Club Live
Now in its third year, the Club Live Chapter at Ralston Intermediate School continues to set the bar with an average of 20 members attending each meeting. Under the guidance of teacher and advisor Debbi Potts, the club leads creative, year-round projects that encourage healthy choices and raise awareness about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco and other drug use while promoting kindness on campus.
Thanks to strong partnerships formed with elementary and high schools in the Garden Grove Unified School District, Ralston Club Live campaigns have been shared and replicated by neighboring FNL chapters — extending their impact beyond their own campus. Additionally, former Ralston student members were instrumental in launching the new FNL chapter at Garden Grove High School this year, highlighting the lasting influence and meaningful experiences students gain in the program.
Advisor Excellence Award Recipient
Kristin Cowan, FNL Kids Advisor, Panorama Elementary School
Nine years ago, fourth-grade teacher Kristin Cowan helped launch the FNL Kids Chapter at Panorama Elementary in the Orange Unified School District. Since then, she has built a supportive campus environment where 35 student leaders gather weekly to brainstorm, plan and carry out activities meant to spread healthy habits and positive behaviors across campus.
Due to her commitment to student growth, FNL Kids members have stepped into leadership roles for the first time and discovered new ways to showcase their talents.
“I choose to be an FNL Kids advisor year after year because it gives students a platform for their voices to be heard and valued,” Cowan said. “It’s inspiring to watch them grow into confident leaders who understand the power they have to make a positive impact. Seeing their passion and creativity in action reminds me why this work matters so much.”
For more information about the Orange County Friday Night Live Partnership, contact OCDE Coordinator Elke Petras at 714-966-4458 or epetras@ocde.us.