Siegel High School wins $2,500 for safe-driving campaign

Siegel High School partnered with Monroe Carell, Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt in a yearlong anti-texting while driving campaign called “Be in the Zone-Turn Off Your Phone.” The campaign is sponsored by The Allstate Foundation and Ford Motor Company Fund and Community Services. The yearlong commitment included a youth service empowerment project with the City of Murfreesboro and multiple events on the Siegel campus to promote safe driving. The culminating event was the anticipated mock crash. Mandatory program requirements included a submission of activity plan, three unannounced driver observations, completion of three mandatory and two created activities, and a campaign book upon completion of the campaign. The student ambassadors involved in initiative were Hannah Milhorn, Klara Houck, Tad Marks, John Ross Langworthy, and Ryan Hill. Teacher sponsors were Jennifer Bettag and Travis Childers. Siegel placed first place in their division out of five participating schools and was awarded $2500, some of which provided scholarships for the students who spearheaded the event. Student Tad Marks said that helping place stoplights at busy intersections and being thrown in the back of a hearse to portray the potential outcomes of this terrible problem left a strong impression on him. “Even if this program only saves one possible life out of the thousands we tried to reach, all the hard work would be worth it for me. This program has been a highlight of my high school career, and I want to encourage anyone reading this that you can make a difference, too. All it takes is a strong will and support from some amazing people.” Special thanks goes to Allstate agent Derrick Maddox who supported the program financially and with the Thumbprint Challenge as well as Mayor Shane McFarland and Traffic Engineer Ram Balachandran who offered their support for the program.

For more information about the Be in the Zone campaign, please contact Jennifer Bettag at [email protected].