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On Tuesday, April 22, Captain Rodney Pickens of the University Police Department (UPD) at the University of Arkansas at Monticello joined Drew County Sheriff Tim Nichols and Miss Arkansas 2024, Camille Cathey, at Monticello High School (MHS) to participate in “Her Safe Way,” a student-led personal safety presentation aimed at helping senior girls navigate life after graduation.

The event, hosted by MHS’s Environmental and Spatial Technology (EAST) program, featured a collaboration between local leaders and students committed to promoting safety among young women. Speakers addressed topics such as situational awareness, social media use, dating safety and sexual assault prevention.

“The University Police Department at UAM continuously strives to support our community through events that promote personal safety and security,” Captain Pickens said. “We are always proud to assist our local schools in any way we can. We’ve been invited to return for future events, and we’re honored to continue serving the Monticello community in every way possible.”

The presentation was developed by MHS EAST students Katie Standley, Noah Jackson, Preslie Cantrell and Ella McDuff, who focused their project on helping young women transition from living at home to navigating life independently. Their project included research on campus safety, digital awareness, self-defense preparedness and the social challenges students may face. As a practical takeaway, each senior girl received a personal safety keychain whistle, recommended by MHS School Resource Officer Shane Hale, who also helped coordinate the event.

Kristy Mitchell, EAST facilitator at MHS and coordinator of the event, stated, “I know our girls feel safe here at home, and sometimes these things just aren’t on their minds. But it mattered to me that they had some awareness and a few tools to stay safe as they take this next step. I'm proud of the four girls who took the initiative to present this project. They weren’t just thinking about their own futures — they were thinking about the safety of their friends.”