Corey's Goal Spreads Awareness A Year After Teen's Suicide

NAPERVILLE, IL — Doug and Maureen Walgren are waiting on another batch of their T-shirts to arrive by the end of the week. The garments sell fast and are especially popular with teenagers. But these shirts go beyond making a fashion statement. To the Walgren family, each one is worn to raise awareness about the cause of their son's death.

Corey's parents are alleging that the manner in which the school questioned Corey may have contributed to his suicide.

"Our hope is that high school students will wear them on Jan. 11 in memory of Corey and to help spread our message to students," said Maureen. "We want to bring to light and open a discussion on the use of cell phones by teens and how administration can better handle disciplinary practices as it relates to the sue of cell phones."

A dean and a police officer questioned Corey about an allegation that he had a video of a consensual sexual encounter with a female classmate on his phone, and that he may have played it for a friend. Maureen Walgren told the Chicago Tribune that the officer told her son he could end up on the sex offender registry as a result.

Corey, who had no history of mental health issues or violent tendencies, killed himself just minutes after that conversation. The Chicago Tribune recently reported that police never intended to pursue charges.

Maureen told Patch that since then her family has learned the term "impulsive suicide," which can happen in teens with underdeveloped brain function when they are put in a difficult situation. She aims to raise awareness to administrators that they could be talking to one of those teens at any given moment. That's what motivates her to continue her work with Corey's Goal.

Once her son's story went pubic in May, she said, other parents reached out to say they've had problems with disciplinary practices in school, too, and that their teens were negatively effected.

"We can't sit by and let these practices continue," she added.

Proceeds from the T-shirts will go to their nonprofit, Corey's Goal, an organization started by his parents. It aims to educate students, parents and administrators on disciplinary practices in the school setting and how they can "better support the emotional well-being of teens," Maureen said.

T-shirt sales will also help fund a scholarship in Corey's name through the Naperville North Hockey Club. If it's financially feasible, they'll expand that scholarships to other hockey clubs in the area.

They envision hosting speaking engagements, producing print materials and bringing in guest speakers to make those in charge of discipline more aware that they could be talking to a teen who might respond differently.

People can send an e-mail to coreysgoal@outlook.com to get a T-shirt for $10. They'll also be selling them at the Corey's Goal Superbowl fundraiser Feb. 4. Doug said they expect to start selling the next round Saturday. He wants to get them into the hands of as many students as possible so they can wear them to school Jan. 11, the anniversary of Corey's death.

Main image courtesy of the Walgren family