x
Breaking News
More () »

Galesburg Junior Senior High School hosts Rachel's Challenge: An organization dedicated to reducing school violence

The presentation is based on the life of Rachel Scott, the first fatality in the Columbine High School mass shooting.

GALESBURG, Ill. — Galesburg schools gave a lesson to their student body by issuing them a challenge.

Specifically, students at Galesburg Junior Senior High School were given Rachel's Challenge. The program is named after Rachel Scott, the first victim of the Columbine High School massacre in 1999. It's meant to encourage students and staff to show kindness to others, hoping the chain reaction will reduce the likelihood of violence in schools.

"It's so incredibly impactful because students learn that the very smallest things can make a difference in other students' lives," Mindi Ritchie, the director of student and staff support for the school district, said. "It doesn't take a lot for them to reach out to someone in need, to say something caring, or just to see someone for who they really are even if they're different than us."

According to officials with Rachel's Challenge, Rachel’s Challenge has delivered programs to over 30 million students, educators and parents at more than 20,000 schools since 2001.

Download the WQAD News 8 App 
Subscribe to our newsletter 
Subscribe to our YouTube channel 

Watch more news, weather and sports on News 8's YouTube channel

Before You Leave, Check This Out