May 5, 2022 – Jim Hill High School juniors and seniors participated in a Prom (Please Return on Monday) Promise event co-sponsored by Jim Hill and Jackson State University’s Metro Jackson Community Prevention Coalition (MJCPC) on Thursday. The event was scheduled this week because Jim Hill will host their Prom this weekend.

The Prom Promise featured Dwight Owens of Taylorsville, Miss., a motivational speaker and author, who was paralyzed by a drunken driver. Owens recounted his health challenges after being struck and spoke to the students about the dangers and consequences of underage drinking and impaired driving. 

The Mississippi Department of Transportation provided students the opportunity to experience a low-impact crash and the benefit of wearing seat belts with its on-site Seat Belt Convincer.  Students also participated in the Virtual Driver Interactive® Distracted/Impaired Driving Simulators, which gave them a first-person account of the real-life consequences of distracted or impaired driving. 

Prom Promise panelists included Hinds County Sheriff Tyree Jones, Jackson Police Department Sergeant Frederic Suttles, Bettye Tyler, Marvellous Works, Inc. director; and from the Jackson Police Department Retired Assistant Chief Calvin Matthew and Retired Deputy Chief Dwayne Thomas.

Students attending prom signed pledges to commit to an alcohol-free and drug-free prom night. 

For more information, contact:  Bobby Brown, Jim Hill High School principal, at 601-960-5354.