Members of the Iron Area Health Foundation Student Leadership Team for 2025-2026 are Dax Huuki, Aiden Johnson, Anna Bandola, Jonnie Ketola, Ava Fischer, Emmi Carollo, Noah Boehmke, and Colton Devore from Forest Park and Annika Johnson, Lily Desousa, Brie Porier, Marlee Benson, Rory Jacobson, Jaden Wallschaeger, Donte White and Seth Oberlin from West Iron County. The adult advors for the team are Kallie Wescott and Kaitlin Cvengros from Forest Park, Konnor Bjorkman and Francy Economy from West Iron County and Chris Kent and Lyke Smithson Jr. from the Iron Area Health Foundation.

IRON RIVER — The Iron Area Health Foundation Student Leadership Team, consisting of high school students from both West Iron County and Forest Park, had its initial meeting of the 2025-2026 school year on Oct. 15 at Young’s Recreational Complex.

Sixteen high school students make up the Leadership Team — eight from West Iron County and eight from Forest Park. The Leadership Team meets four times per year to develop goals and areas of focus for the school year that are dedicated to the enhancement of health and well-being in their respective schools and communities. Over the past two years the team has determined that prominent issues in their schools were vaping, substance use, bullying, school attendance, school behavior and a feeling of lack of belonging and connectivity among students at school.

They are taken action to address these areas of need. They created anti-bullying/anti-substance use banners that were presented to their respective schools and are displayed at key locations within the schools. They have supported a Unity Day that highlights student belonging, diversity and student connectivity. The team has coordinated a clubs and activities day and brochure for their schools that informs students of the opportunities that are available to them with the goal of creating a greater sense of community, belonging and connectivity.

They supported motivational and informational speakers at the schools. Jeff Olson has spoken to the student body about mental health and suicide awareness and Jake Witt has spoken to the student body regarding proper health, nutrition and exercise for a healthy life.

The Iron Area Health Foundation Board recognized the IAHF Student Leadership Team in January with the Above and Beyond award for making a positive difference in their school and community in the areas of health and well-being. For the 2025-2026 school year, the Student Leadership Team will focus on creating public service announcements on health and wellness topics that the students have selected. The PSAs will be shared with both the student bodies at both schools and with the community in general through utilizing the radio, newspaper, social media and school public address system. They are also beginning to make plans to coordinate both a school-wide and community health fair.