SALISBURY – Nearly 200 students from Knox Middle School boarded the “Choice Bus” on Friday thanks to a partnership between Communities In Schools (CIS) of North Carolina, State Farm and the Mattie C. Stewart Foundation.

CIS of Rowan County students, along with their peers, received a firsthand look at the possibilities that education and student success can bring – more earnings over a person’s lifetime if they graduate from college. The Choice Bus is a half-prison cell, half-classroom converted school bus which visually portrays two different life paths.

“When students board the Choice Bus, they get to experience what life is actually like from two different points of view. It helps students dig deep into thinking about their futures based on the decisions they will make. Connecting education to future lifetime earning potential and career goals is what we strive to encourage,” said Sherri Stewart, executive director of the Mattie C. Stewart Foundation.

CIS equips students to not only graduate, but also have a plan for post-secondary education, training or employment. This includes discussing activities that can have a detrimental impact as well as understanding alternative paths.

“The Choice Bus has impacted thousands of lives,” said Kim Conyers, State Farm Insurance public affairs specialist. “It has been an honor to be proud partners with the Mattie C. Stewart Foundation and CISNC and see a difference in the way our schools and communities feel about education. We believe that students now understand that their futures are based on the consequences of every decision they make.”

Dr. Shelley Stewart, founder and president of The Mattie C. Stewart Foundation, said, “We are proud to work with State Farm to spread the message of education to North Carolina. Illustrating to students the uncut vision of what poor choices leads to can help them think about their actions. Our mission is to continue spreading the power of education to our youth across the nation.”

About Communities In Schools of North Carolina

Communities In Schools of North Carolina (CISNC) is a leading partner in providing integrated student supports or wraparound services to propel student success in nearly 400 schools across the state. Based directly inside schools, Communities In Schools connects thousands of students and their families to evidence-based services and supports as well as critical educational and community-based resources, tailored to each student’s specific needs, creating an educational experience where students can learn, thrive and succeed. Learn more at www.cisnc.org, and stay connected with CISNC on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.