The Lindsey Meyer Teen Institute (LMTI) is a statewide leadership training program for high school students in the US state of New Jersey

New Jersey

New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...

. The program has a distinct focus on alcohol, tobacco, and other drug prevention but also stresses the importance of diversity appreciation, healthy choices, and making a positive change in participants' schools and communities. LMTI is a program of the Lindsey Meyer Memorial Foundation, a non profit, 501(c)(3) organization, and is based in Rutherford, New Jersey

Rutherford, New Jersey

Rutherford is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 18,061. It is an inner-ring suburb of New York City, located west of Midtown Manhattan....

. Both the Foundation and the Teen Institute were established in honor of Lindsey Meyer.

Lindsey Meyer

Lindsey Rose Meyer was a New Jersey student who attended St. Mary High School

St. Mary High School (Rutherford, New Jersey)

St. Mary High School is a four-year Roman Catholic high school located in Rutherford, New Jersey, United States, operating under the auspices of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark...

 in Rutherford, NJ. She had Cystic Fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis

Cystic fibrosis is a recessive genetic disease affecting most critically the lungs, and also the pancreas, liver, and intestine...

. She first attended Teen Institute in 1998. She was accepted as a Youth Staff member in 1999 and again in 2000. Lindsey was also President of her high school prevention group, Students Helping Other Students (SHOS). Lindsey was passionate about helping others and also led discussion/support groups for younger patients coping with Cystic Fibrosis, drawing on her own experiences to provide insight and comfort for those she worked with.

Meyer died on 8 February 2001.

Lindsey Meyer Memorial Foundation

The Lindsey Meyer Memorial Foundation was formed by Lindsey's family members and friends in 2001.
The Lindsey Meyer Memorial Foundation seeks to keep Lindsey's memory, her passion and her spirit alive while supporting the programs and activities that meant so much to her.

Lindsey Meyer Teen Institute

LMTI was formed in 2005 and was quickly recognized by the National Association of Teen Institutes (NATI) as a program member. The program was developed by Teen Institute alumni and volunteers. The Lindsey Meyer Memorial Foundation welcomed the program as its first leadership training initiative. Upon its inception, LMTI became the largest Teen Institute in New Jersey, with over 350 high school and college students participating in the Summer Leadership Leadership Conference annually.

Mission Statement:
The mission of the Lindsey Meyer Teen Institute is to reduce the frequency of teenage alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use and abuse by guiding students to realize their leadership abilities and guiding them to create positive changes in their schools and communities.

Notable Alumni

Miles Austin

Miles Austin

Miles Jonathon Austin III is an American football wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League. He was signed by the Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 2006...

III, Dallas Cowboys Wide Receiver

Doug Bratton, Cartoonist

Dr. Matt Bellace, Motivational Presenter