Bennington High School is one of seven schools recognized by Omaha Performing Arts recognized for their creation of an anti-bullying project.
The school implemented their project after attending an anti-bullying summit featuring cast members from Wicked.
The summit was held in May of last year and more than 250 faculty and students attended.
Natalee Minthorn, Educator at Bennington, says her school brought Jay Asher, author of Thirteen Reasons Why, to speak with each grade during a school assembly.
Asher’s book is about a girl who has 13 reasons why she commits suicide.
As part of Bennington’s project, Minthorn says the student senate came up with 13 reasons not to commit suicide.
"So we had little flyers that said 13 Reasons Why You Matter and we had students write on each other’s lockers after the assembly. The mural depicted 13 tapes on it and 13 reasons why not. So it was a message that we hoped would empower our students to stand up to the bullies or stand up for themselves being bullied.”
Bennington’s work on their project earned the school an official No Place for Hate designation with the Anti-Defamation League for the 2014-2015 school year.
Other schools that were recognized include Conestoga High School and the OPS Career Center.