PTHS assembly celebrates P2D2 law

Pontiac Township High School student Nora McCune spoke about the importance of the P2D2 program and the recent passage of a law to help make the program statewide. McCune and others spoke during a Thursday morning assembly in the school library. Also speaking was State Rep. Jason Barickman, at right. Late Thursday morning, P2D2 program developers and teachers Paul Ritter and Megan Bozarth, Pontiac Township High School students and State Rep. Jason Barickman gathered in the high school library to celebrate a newly signed law, which will expand the Prescription Pill and Drug Disposal Program (P2D2) statewide. Governor Pat Quinn signed House Bill 2056, the prescription pill and drug disposal fund, into law last week. This bill was inspired by PTHS students and Ritter's P2D2 program. The temperature in the already warm library began to rise as students from multiple classrooms in PTHS gathered on seats and sofas to be updated on the news about their student-inspired P2D2 program. As the temperature rose, so did the excitement level of everyone in attendance causing a staff librarian to remark, “Something big must be going on in here today.” Teacher Megan Bozarth was the first speaker of the morning and her brief summary caught everyone in attendance up to speed on both the program and the significance of the assembly. Students at Pontiac High School began a P2D2 program, which Antioch Community High School wanted to try in their own high school. However, Antioch High School learned there was a problem with funding and upon contacting their state representative, JoAnn Osmond, HB 2056 was crafted. The bill provides funding for the collection, transportation and incineration of unused and or expired prescription drugs. “It was the hard work and dedication of our students that enabled our bill to unanimously pass through the Senate,” Bozarth said. “Last week, on Wednesday, we were able to witness history as a student-initiated bill became law in the state of Illinois.” What inspired Ritter most about the P2D2 program, was the fact that this program was made and sought after by PTHS students with teachers helping to fit all the pieces together. Unlike most situations, where the teacher is pushing the student, it was the students who were constantly pushing the teachers. “They are coming up to you and saying, ‘Can we try this or can we do that?’” Said Ritter. “We are sitting here and taking something that we normally do, but expanding ourselves outside the box to the point where it is making things that we do every day meaningful and worthwhile. We do things that will change not only Livingston County or Illinois, but also our planet. When I talk about this stuff, it’s very easy for me because I am living the American dream. I am living the fact that anybody can have the ability to change the world and I am watching it all first-hand.” Barickman followed Bozarth’s speech with his praise regarding the newly signed bill and the fact that in a time when the Illinois economy matters most, PTHS students were able to create a program that solves a problem without costing the state any money. “One of the things that is great about it, is that it doesn’t cost the state any money and it does just a wonderful thing for the environment,” said Barickman. “The work that you all have done putting this together is the thing that I want to emphasize. I went to Woodland High School and we had shop and football and all the things of high school, but we never pulled ourselves together and really lobbied our government for a change such as you all have done. When you think about the fact that you have changed the law, made a new law, changed government and public policy, it is just a terrific thing. My kudos go to you all and Mr. Ritter for his work. Mr. Ritter now has national attention for all of his efforts as a science teacher and environmentalist and I think it’s great.” After an affirming round of applause for Barickman, student Nora McCune spoke to her peers and teachers about the impact the program made on her life. When McCune first heard about the program, she wasn’t very familiar with Ritter or P2D2. “I didn’t have a lot of science classes,” said McCune. “We started out by making videos to promote the program so that other people could duplicate the program in their own schools and soon enough, the bill was going through the Senate and House. By the time I got back to school, the bill was being signed by Pat Quinn. Being a part of this program has made a huge impact on my life, the environment and the world.” Pontiac Township High School junior Charles Spencer followed McCune’s speech with his own narration of the things he has accomplished through the program over the last year. He talked about speaking at a Chicago convention of high school students and being interviewed on Fox News for a national news story. “I was on national television which was really great and then this year, my junior year, I had the opportunity to go to Chicago and watch the signing of three bills that helped the funding of P2D2,” said Spencer. “Being involved with P2D2 has been a fun and beneficial experience for me. It has given me the opportunity to be involved with my local government and just really see how far you can go with the determination and passion that Mr. Ritter has, to make a change for the better and for our environment.” Ritter said there is a list online of places where people all over the state can take their out- of-date prescription medications to be recycled in a way that is healthy for the environment. “The drop off stations are pretty much everywhere that has a police station or pharmacy in the state of Illinois, “ said Ritter. “The pharmacies are taking non-controlled substances and they go through and dispose of that as well.” The last speech of the morning came from Ritter himself. Ritter spoke about the power that each of his students has to change the world around them, regardless of their cause and also his personal mission to prove that fact to them. “What I am trying to say is this, each of you have a dream. It may not be P2D2, but each of you have a dream,” said Ritter. “Don’t ever allow anyone to hold you back. This bill, these bills, they were kids that said, no holds barred, ‘Were going to change our world’ and they did. This program is people who want to make a difference because it’s the right thing to do. I believe in each and every one of you in this room and I can tell you this right now, if it were not for you, none of this would be possible. The beauty in this whole situation is, we are just beginning. We have a lot of work to do; it’s called the rest of your lives. Standing up for what’s right and what you believe in. More importantly, standing up for what is not right and making sure that you make change. Each of you has the ability. I can tell you today is a great day. I am so proud to be a teacher, I am so proud to be your teacher. Thank you for all you do.”