Deerfield Teen Wins peta2 Award

High School Student Recognized for Leading the Charge for Animal Rights

For Immediate Release:
November 11, 2013

Contact:
Shakira Croce 202-483-7382

Deerfield, Ill. –

If you’re a student at Deerfield High School, you’ve probably already heard of 16-year-old Devin Pohn. Now, the folks at peta2, PETA’s youth division, would like to see Devin receive the community recognition that he deserves. For placing animal rights front and center, including successfully circulating a petition among students and faculty to add delicious, healthy, and humane veggie burgers to his school’s cafeteria menu, Devin has been given peta2’s Star Street Teamer Award.

“Devin embodies every quality of today’s teens who are standing up for what they believe is right and helping to make the world a kinder place,” says peta2 Director Marta Holmberg. “Young people are leading the animal rights charge, and Devin is a trailblazer they can look to for inspiration.”

To score his veggie burger victory, Devin, who is a member of the Deerfield High School Animal Rights Club, scheduled a meeting with the school principal, the cafeteria manager, and the café liaison officer. Because the petition and his power of persuasion, students now have a choice between burgers that involve a lifetime of suffering for animals and veggie burgers, which not only help save animals’ lives but also help protect against childhood obesity.

Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the U.S. Kids are getting fatter for the same reasons that adults are getting fatter: The typical Western diet, which relies heavily on animal-based foods, is high in fat and cholesterol and is a key cause of obesity and coronary heart disease.

peta2’s Street Team is a group of youth activists dedicated to helping animals through in-person events, online campaigns, and social media. Devin, who also serves on peta2’s Youth Advisory Board, will receive a framed certificate and will be featured on the “Everyday Heroes” page of peta2.com.

For more information, please visit peta2.com.