Angela Kruger, a Student Assistance Professional serving Goldendale Middle and High School, has been named a 2025 Youth Prevention Leader by the Washington State Health Care Authority as part of its annual Prevention Awards of Excellence.

This statewide recognition honors Angela’s exceptional leadership and dedication to promoting mental health and preventing substance use among students. Now in her fifth year serving Goldendale’s youth, Angela has shown a steadfast commitment to fostering student wellness through education, collaboration, and inclusive, data-driven prevention strategies.

“It’s such an honor to have our prevention efforts recognized,” said Angela. “Collaborating with youth as they analyzed data and developed strategies to address areas needing attention in our schools is deeply inspiring. Witnessing their resilience and commitment renews my hope and passion for this work.”

Angela leads a vibrant student Prevention Club and has organized more than 100 prevention activities in the past year alone. Her work includes support groups, classroom education, staff training, and family engagement. A highlight of her recent efforts includes using student-driven Healthy Youth Survey data to develop a vape prevention campaign, which was showcased at the 2025 Klickitat Youth Conference.

Angela’s work aligns with a broader regional prevention strategy led by Prevent Coalition, which partly focuses on developing youth leadership and decreasing substance use through education, data-driven strategies, and community involvement. She also works closely on substance use prevention through Coalition for Preventing Abuse in Klickitat County (CPAKC), based in Goldendale.

“Watching Angela support her students as they championed the Healthy Youth Survey was inspiring,” said Joy Lyons, Director of Prevention at ESD 112, who nominated Angela for the award. “She helped them understand why it matters and gave them the tools to share that message with their peers. It’s a perfect example of how she blends prevention work with meaningful student leadership.”

In her dual role across both schools, Angela partners with administrators, staff, families, and community organizations to ensure students receive the support they need. Her leadership and adaptability have allowed her to overcome systemic challenges, such as scheduling conflicts and resource limitations, by building strong internal systems and inclusive programming.

“Angela’s work is both strategic and deeply compassionate,” said Lyons. “She brings professionalism, empathy, and a steady presence to every aspect of her work. The difference she’s made in students’ lives and in our broader prevention efforts is remarkable.”

Angela also earned her Certified Prevention Professional credential this year, further demonstrating her commitment to continuous improvement and excellence in prevention practice.

The official awards celebration will take place during the rescheduled 2026 Washington State Prevention Summit. A virtual recognition event was held on October 29 to honor this year’s awardees.

About Prevent Coalition

The Prevent Coalition is a community coalition formed in 2003 to increase collaboration and awareness and reduce youth substance use in Southwest Washington, including Clark, Klickitat, and Skamania counties. Prevent also implements initiatives for rural communities across Washington State through the Rural Network to create a culture that promotes healthy choices. Through support from ESD 112, as well as invaluable community volunteers and organizations across the state, Prevent advocates for policies and regulations that protect, empower, and nurture youth. Prevent is funded by the Youth Cannabis & Commercial Tobacco Program from the Washington Department of Health,  and other state and federal grants. For more information, visit www.preventcoalition.org.