Lakeridge Middle School will host Rachel’s Challenge, a national education outreach program named after Rachel Scott, the first victim in the 1999 Columbine High School massacre, tonight, April 12.

Immediately after the tragedy, Scott’s father Darrell began to speak around the nation and used writings and drawings from Rachel’s many diaries to illustrate the need for a kinder, more compassionate nation.

Her acts of kindness and compassion coupled with the contents of her six diaries have become the foundation for the program.

Rachel’s Challenge exists to inspire, equip and empower every person to create a permanent positive culture change in their school, business and community by starting a chain reaction of kindness and compassion.

Video and audio footage of Rachel’s life and the Columbine tragedy are shown during a one-hour school presentation that seeks to motivate students to a positive change in the way they treat others.

This is followed by a separate, interactive 90-minute training session involving both adult and student leaders that shows how to sustain the momentum created by the assembly.

A special evening presentation is scheduled for parents and community leaders. This session is similar to the assembly program that students will experience and ends with a specific challenge to parents and community leaders to show how they can reinforce the decisions youth are making.

“Rachel’s Challenge: An evening event for students, families and community” is scheduled for 7 p.m. April 12 at Lakeridge Middle School, 5909 Myers Rd.