LOWELLVILLE — Students responded with enthusiasm when nationally recognized speaker and entertainer David McCreary engaged them with magic tricks, jokes and inspirational stories last week.

His performance is designed to inspire students with meaningful messages about positivity, making good choices, kindness and respect.

Lowellville Local Schools Superintendent Christine Sawicki saw his visit as a great way to help kick off a positive and engaging school year.

“This event directly supports the district’s PBIS initiative (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) and Rockets RISE, which encourages students to be Respectful, Inclusive, Safe and Engaged,” Sawicki said.

PBIS is an evidence-based, tiered framework for supporting students’ behavioral, academic, social, emotional and mental health. PBIS improves social emotional competence, academic success and school climate, according to the Center on PBIS. It also improves teacher health and well-being by creating positive, predictable, equitable and safe learning environments.

By aligning his message with these guiding principles, McCreary reinforces the importance of building a strong, respectful and supportive school culture.

McCreary said when he first started performing comedy and magic professionally 25 years ago, he was “doing nothing more than just some comedy and magic. No message, just fun.”

“About 10 years ago, someone from Relevant Speakers happened to catch my show and asked if I’d ever considered speaking at schools. I figured this was a good chance to maybe help change a life or two while doing what I love — the comedy and magic. So I jumped in and I’ve been going pretty strong ever since. I’m loving it. I’m really liking making a difference in students’ lives,” McCreary said.

He shared with the students two things that have gotten him a life of which he can be proud.

“We need to laugh often. Laughter is just an outward expression of joy, and we seem to lose that as we go through our school career. Studies show that babies and toddlers laugh or smile 300 to 400 times a day. Adults laugh or smile 10 to 15 times a day. So, between toddler age and adulthood, our school time is when we lose that happiness.”

He also talked to the students about the power of kindness, emphasizing, “Too often we make this mistake that kindness is weakness.” He shared several stories about friends who had been bullied their entire lives and encouraged students to “just stop bullying.”

His message hit home with Lowellville sophomore Lucas Williams, 15.

“I was impressed. McCreary was very relevant to what goes on in schools. He was influential and what I heard today helped me, and I think he will help others,” Lucas said.

Livia Dutton, also 15 and a 10th grader at Lowellville, agreed.

“His performance was very informative as well as entertaining. People need to hear what he has to say,” Livia said.

In addition to being a motivational speaker, comedian and magician, McCreary also is co-host of the Ohio Lottery’s “Cash Explosion” television game show.