By Jacquelyn Perreira
[email protected]

For 16 years, MHS Adolescent Substance Abuse Counseling Services (ASACS) Counselor Matt Gregory has been not only that but much more. Now, he will be leaving MHS in order to become the Quality Assurance Coordinator for the worldwide ASACS program, and Mary Schwing will fill his position as ASACS Counselor.

“I’ll miss the people, including the students. I made a lot of good friendships here and professional relationships. But on the other hand, I’m excited to begin my new position,” Gregory expressed.

As the ASACS Counselor, Gregory provided many services for students, like Project Armor, which is for students who want to stay drug-free and develop beneficial life skills. Another program is the Deployment Support Group, which is for students who are dealing with parents or guardians who are deployed. He would also visit Health Education classes and speak about how to prevent substance abuse.

“As an ASACS counselor, (Gregory) has been invaluable. He understands some of the special circumstances and needs of military connected families and military dependants, and he was uniquely situated to direct them to the kinds of assistance and services that could be most helpful,” said Vice Principal James Petersen.

Gregory has also been a part of several school committees, and has even planted a variety of greenery in various places on campus during his own time as a way to give back to the school.

Before Gregory was an ASACS Counselor, he worked with adolescents in the hospital, which is where he realized he wanted to become more involved in prevention work with teens. “In the hospital, a student sometimes has already made actions or had behaviors that have maybe lifetime consequences,” he said, continuing, “Being an ASACS counselor, I could see that I could get out into the community and make a difference … do more prevention work (and) try to keep small problems from becoming big.”

Gregory’s admiration for what ASACS does contributes to why he has stayed at MHS for so long. “I love the work. I love working with students … I think that the work of ASACS is very helpful (and) it’s a program that does a lot of good. I like the fact that (military families) are able to come to counseling … with no charge at all, it’s totally made free to them,” he explained.

As the Quality Assurance Coordinator, Gregory will now be working on Schofield Barracks and will have a greater responsibility. “I will be helping the overall ASACS program to ensure that continued quality care is being provided for our clients … (and assisting) our counselors to be the best that they can be,” he said.

Gregory has decided to accept this position because he feels that he will be able to help the ASACS program in a bigger way. “I believe my background and experience has led me to a place where I can help the ASACS worldwide program to continue to provide excellent services to military families,” he explained.

Even though the new position will be beneficial to Gregory, he will still be missed amongst his colleagues. “I’m going to miss (Gregory) greatly. And I’m sure (Schwing) is going to do a wonderful job, but (Gregory) has been here … for so long and has been so much a part of this school that it’s almost as if one of the buildings has disappeared,” said Petersen.

Starting this year, Schwing will take over as the new ASACS Counselor. Qualities like her high energy and care for adolescents is what Gregory feels will make her a good choice for the job. “One of the main things that you need as an ASACS Counselor is a desire to help, and she has that. So she’s gonna do a great job,” he said.

Schwing hopes to familiarize students with who she is. “Probably my biggest goal is to try to get integrated into the school; be a part of the school, so that people see me, they recognize me, they know what I’m about … (so) when a need arises, people will think of me and go ‘oh, yeah yeah Mary’s there, Mary can help,” she said.

In order to get in touch with or join the ASACS program, Schwing’s office can be found next to the Teen Health portables. She can also be contacted by either going to her office or by visiting the Alpha Counselors for a referral. The phone number is 627-7747 extension 74188.