West Charlotte graduate Stephanie Wyatt remembers the fatal incident as if it happened yesterday. She still gets chills just thinking about it. Her classmate Alex Orange was killed at a party in 1989 while trying to stop a fight. That was 20 years ago.
Today, West Charlotte students are still honoring Orange’s death through a service organization named in his honor. The Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) club celebrated its 20th anniversary during National Youth Violence Prevention Week March 24-30. The club began at West Charlotte following Orange’s death. 
SAVE is a student-driven club where members learn about alternatives to violence and practice what they learn through school and community service projects.
“I’m happy that the students at West Charlotte are still acknowledging SAVE,” Wyatt said. “I hope more students will take the club seriously.”
During youth violence prevention week, West Charlotte students held a candlelight vigil and sponsored a SAVE Day where students and staff wore purple and orange to recognize Orange and the club. They also sponsored a student-staff basketball game.
Harding University High and John Taylor Williams Middle students joined West Charlotte’s SAVE members for a walk Thursday, April 2. Students chanted and cheered for SAVE as they walked around the West Charlotte campus with a bright orange and purple banner. The route of the walk changed due to inclement weather. The original plan called for students to walk along Beatties Ford Road and spread their message to the community.
“We want to let our peers know that there are options to violence,” said Jalisa Walker, president of the SAVE chapter at West Charlotte. “We can relate to each other and I hope we can help them make better decisions.”
The West Charlotte club was also named SAVE Chapter of the Year. The national organization recognizes clubs each year for student involvement in promoting crime prevention, conflict management and service-learning activities.
Dr. Pamela Riley, executive director for SAVE, visited West Charlotte earlier in the school year and spoke to students and staff about back-to-school safety. She also shared information about weapon and discipline policies, safe school plans and how to report incidents.
SAVE currently has more than 1,700 chapters in 46 states, and nearly 200,000 members.
For more information, visit www.nationalsave.org