Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council Members Recognized for Work Against Human Trafficking

May 06 2024

As this year’s meetings come to a close for the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Council, several members were recognized by a national nonprofit organization — as well as by the governor of Texas and the president of the United States — for their work in spreading awareness of human trafficking.

Several district officials, including Superintendent Lupita Hinojosa, were in attendance, along with staff representatives from all six district high schools, as well as Lawrence Bell, who was representing Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey, and Denise Mears, the founder and CEO of Project Protect Our Children.

“We are here today to see all of your amazing smiling faces and to thank you for the role in bringing human trafficking awareness to your peers, the school staff, and your communities,” Mears said.

She was there representing her organization, Project Protect Our Children, and to present members of the council with special awards recognizing their work on their respective campuses to raise awareness around human trafficking, including resources and signs of human trafficking.

She also brought along recognitions and awards from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and President Joe Biden.

“We strongly believe in the power of the youth voice,” Mears said. “Our youth are champions in the fight. We didn’t want to talk to you or at you. We wanted to talk with you. To give you a seat at the table.”

The awards were a part of the last meeting of the school year for the Student Advisory Council, which are held monthly and are aimed at providing student leaders in the district an avenue to share their feedback and ideas from their respective schools. The council is self-governed, and elects a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Community and Service Chairperson.

Earlier this school year, the group got involved with Project Protect Our Children, which was founded in 2019 to prevent child sex trafficking, exploitation and abuse through proactive community engagement, preventative educational programs, awareness and empowerment opportunities.

Over the course of this school year, students used social media, flyers and posters around their campuses, collaborations with other student organizations, tables at lunch time with information, and more to spread awareness of human trafficking, including the signs and clearing up misinformation. They also shared the number of a hotline with resources for students who may suspect they know someone that is vulnerable to or a victim of human trafficking.

“We want to thank Project Protect Our Children for the opportunity,” Dr. Hinojosa said. “Our students have worked really hard in educating the other students on their campus — getting the word out on what it is, what the signs are, and how anyone can help.”

Two students were also recognized with the President's Volunteer Service Award, awarded by the US President.

Sharly Manzanares Guzman, a senior at Dekaney High School took home the bronze award, while Camilo Huerta, a senior at Carl Wunsche Sr. High School, took home the gold award.

“We truly believe that these students can be champions in this fight,” Mears said. “They truly are and can be a major port of the solution to end human trafficking.”

The students who were recognized by Project Protect Our Children with the Champion Award include:

Carl Wunsche Sr. High School