Topsail High School to host ‘Choose Love’ presentation with Sandy Hook mother Scarlett Lewis

HAMPSTEAD, NC (WWAY) — Topsail High School will welcome the community on April 20 for a presentation focused on emotional resilience, compassion, and school safety.

The event, organized by the school’s Youth Advisory Council, will feature Scarlett Lewis, founder of the Choose Love Movement and mother of Jesse Lewis, one of the children killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting.

Lewis has dedicated her life to promoting social and emotional learning following the 2012 tragedy, transforming personal grief into a nationwide effort to help prevent violence in schools. Her “Choose Love” initiative emphasizes courage, gratitude, forgiveness, and compassion as core principles for building safer, more connected communities.

During the hour-long presentation, scheduled from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the school gymnasium, Lewis will share her personal story and introduce practical tools designed to help students better understand and manage their emotions. The program aims to empower young people to make thoughtful decisions, build resilience, and navigate challenges without resorting to violence.

Topics will include the neuroscience behind stress and emotional responses, strategies for self-control such as the “Choice Moment,” and the role of gratitude and forgiveness in reducing emotional distress. Lewis will also highlight how compassion can positively impact both individual well-being and overall community safety.

Organizers say the event is part of a broader initiative at Topsail High School to support student mental health and foster a more inclusive and supportive environment.

The presentation is open to students, families, and community members. Donations will be accepted in advance and at the door.