On Thursday, November 20, 2025, a group of fantastic and specially trained Teens Against Tobacco Use (TATU) leaders from Hastings High School completed another year of TATU presentations for 4th grade students in all Hastings Elementary Schools.
Their presentations were fun, interactive, and educational, focusing on making the healthy decision to be “Nicotine-Free”. Fourth graders learned about the harmful chemicals found in cigarette smoke and vaping devices, the health problems associated with tobacco and nicotine use, the cost of smoking, and the impact of nicotine on blood vessels.
TATU is a program of the Barry County Substance Abuse Task Force and Substance Use Prevention Services/BCCMHA and is funded in part by the Barry Community Foundation, Tobacco Settlement Funds. Hastings TATU is coordinated by Kelli Newberry, Advisor to the Hastings Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) Chapter. TATU has been active in Hastings Areas Schools since 2001.
Hastings High School TATU Leaders this year are:
Audrey Acker
Ella Allyn
Violet Bivens
Shiloh Crandall
Charlotte Drake
Petra Foster
Lillian Haire
Sadie Hanford
Brissa Hernandez
Ethan Holman
Josslyn Metzger
Emilyah Neil
Cruise Rathburn
Matthew Shults
Bella Strimback
Maddie Stora
Levi Taylor-Krebs
Brayden Ward
Kylie Wilcox