West Mifflin Area Middle School students will get a strong message Friday morning during an assembly when the school hosts Jon Pritikin, founder of "Feel the Power," a program that addresses bullying and peer pressure.

Mr. Pritikin, 36, of Lodi, Calif., is a Guinness Book of World Record holder for various feats of strength. He will share his compelling story of how he overcame a speech problem, childhood hardships and bullying. And he will demonstrate his strength by bending metal pipes, tearing a phone book in half and rolling up a frying pan like a burrito.

His message encourages students to overcome life's obstacles, work hard and never give up. He has been profiled in a number of Post-Gazette stories. To read them, go to www.post-gazette.com and type "John Pritikin" in search box.

This program, made possible through the National Character Education Foundation, enhances the middle school's Olweus Anti-Bullying initiative, implemented this year. This program is underwritten by Highmark and is used in 138 schools in the state. It aims to decrease bullying through increased awareness, districtwide rules, training for faculty and staff, and community outreach. It is based on the research of Swedish psychologist Dan Olweus.

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