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Students are participating in a contest hosted by State Farm Insurance, and the winners in two categories will receive the $100,000 and a concert from Clarkson. More than 3,500 schools across the country are participating in the contest.
Danbury High School is currently ranked first in the large school category, 750 students or more, with nearly 52,000 pledges made since the beginning of National Teen Driver Safety Week, which is Oct. 18 through Oct. 26.
“We’ve got a group of students and faculty that are just exceptional,” said Maria Ordonez., a State Farm agent in Danbury. She said that the students, parents and teachers have been planning this campaign for a month, working to engage the community by getting major companies such as Boehringer Ingelheim and Danbury Hospital to let them put up posters and sign up their employees.
The students also have set up a booth at Danbury Fair Mall, where they can explain the contest to shoppers and help register to vote online. “They’ve got their laptops there, and they’re stopping folks,” Ordonez said.
The contest is trying something other than scare tactics to promote safe driving for teenagers by providing positive driving messages and engaging students around the country.
“We want to celebrate them getting their license,” said Arlene Lester, from State Farm Public Affairs-Media Relations. “It has a lighter feel to it.”
The No. 1 killer of teens is traffic accidents, she said, and this campaign is focused on making sure that teens know how to be the best drivers. When voting for a school two multiple choice questions pop up, and are intended to be a reminder for teens and adults.
To vote for Danbury High School, visit the Celebrate My Drive website and register to vote once every day.
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