2006-07 Best of the Best
"Roll Right: Get R.E.A.L."
Shallowater High School
Shallowater, Texas
In a span of six weeks, eight teens died on the south plains of Texas because they were speeding and not wearing seat belts. With "Roll Right: Get R.E.A.L.," Shallowater High helped change the driving habits of Texas teens.
Their Project Ignition project targeted residents of Shallowater, across the south plains, and all throughout Texas — especially teens. Shallowater students initiated the Area 61 Teen Coalition Against Destructive Driving, comprised of 20 counties and 61 schools. The coalition meets monthly to coordinate efforts to combat bad driving choices. The team is united in its effort help teens teach teens to make the right decisions.
Beyond Best of the Best
Since winning the Best of the Best award in 2007, Shallowater High School has been working with organizations across the area to secure the future growth and success of its Area 61 Teen Coalition Against Destructive Driving.
To help ensure that growth, leadership for the Coalition has moved to a trauma group that collaborates with others like it all over Texas. Thanks to this partnership, four more counties and seven more high schools have been reached, raising the total number of high schools to 70.
Curriculum and outreach methods are also being revamped. The biggest change is that in addition to schools coming to the Coalition, Coalition officers are beginning county tours where they visit every high school in a county in one day.
The largest and most emotional project this year is one that honors two students who were killed by a drunk driver in the summer of 2006. The Coalition was approached by the Lubbock, Texas, victim's assistance unit to help fund a mobile memorial — and became the largest donor and main contributor to the project.
Through service-learning, Shallowater's automotive technology, agricultural mechanics, and industrial technology classes constructed the memorial. It includes an enclosed trailer with large windows that encase the car the two were riding in when they were hit. Three screens vividly reflect the lives of those lost and warn of the consequences of drinking and driving.
This year has provided even more fuel to propel Shallowater High School in furthering its cause to make the community, area, state, and nation a safer place.
2005-06 Best of the Best
"GCMS License to Live"
(Shattered Dreams)
Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley High School
Gibson City, Illinois
Project sponsor: Judy Weber-Jones
This project was inspired by a tragic accident involving twin brothers. Students produced public service announcements (PSAs), composed original music, and developed presentations that were shown school-wide and throughout the community.
School assemblies, a mock accident, a seat belt convincer, rollover demonstration, and fatal vision goggles and golf carts were coordinated with local police, fire, EMT, hospital, coroner, and funeral homes.
Media coverage across three television stations, radio, newspapers, and the Internet reached nearly 345,000 people. As a result of their campaign, seat belt usage increased measurably, and speeding and accidents decreased significantly.
Beyond Best of the Best
In the year after being named the Best of the Best, Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley High School students took their teen driver safety efforts to heights that no one ever imagined. See their story in the GCMS retrospective video.
2004-05 Best of the Best
"In a Flash"
Mooresville High School
Mooresville, Indiana
Project sponsor: Susan Haynes
Because lives can change “In a Flash” as a result of unsafe driving, Mooresville’s Project Ignition effort focused on four areas: seat belt safety, dangerous habits, impaired driving, and cell phone use.
The students wrote and produced videos to impact viewers. They sponsored a Community Safe Driving Day that incorporated safety personnel, students, and community. The team distributed weekly fliers, prizes, and mementos to help drive home their messages. Students signed pledges, made “Remember Them” key chains, interacted, and studied the four focus areas in the classroom. Local newspapers and radio stations covered all events. Survey results confirmed that students and community members made safer choices as a result of “In a Flash.”
Beyond Best of the Best
With its Best of the Best winnings in the '05-'06 school year, Mooresville High School held a one-day forum on teen safe driving for several Indiana high schools. Students and sponsors had an opportunity to share program and event ideas as well as hear from police officers, EMTs, State Farm® insurance agents, service-learning professionals, and representatives of groups such as AAA, MADD and ABATE.
Project Ignition members also continued safe driving promotions within the school and visited other high schools with their safe driving message. They spoke at several state and national conventions and workshops about the importance of using a positive message to keep teen drivers safe.
Today, MHS continues its teen driver safety efforts, combining Project Ignition momentum with the school's SADD club. Project Ignition initially began after two MHS students lost their lives in separate accidents during a single year. In the years since joining Project Ignition, the school has had one student traffic fatality. The student was wearing his seat belt, but it was not enough to save his life.
The group can take comfort in the fact that two other students' lives were saved during a rollover accident a year after Project Ignition started. Those students credit the program with getting them to wear their seat belts regularly.