Published: June 03, 2008 06:03 pm      

Governor honors Project Ignition

Oklahoma City — Oklahoma Governor Brad Henry honored Ada High School May 27 at the state capitol for winning the “Best of the Best” Project Ignition trophy.

Ada High School, and the leadership classes led by teacher Krystal Joplin, are becoming well-known throughout Oklahoma for helping curb motor vehicle accidents among teens.

The governor shared the award with the students and thanked them for taking part in a service learning program that impacts teen safe driving habits. Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for American teens, making it one of the most important subjects to protect youth.

Leadership classes at Ada High School took this topic seriously after losing classmates to auto accidents. They designed a safe driving course and activities for Ada students with grant funds from a State Farm Insurance program — Project Ignition — and began sharing their experiences with other Oklahoma schools. Those schools, in turn, started their own programs.

Project Ignition is a forum through which students develop communication programs that address risky driving behaviors. Ada High School won the “Best of the Best” award along with a $10,000 grant to continue their safety program. One of the most effective ways to reduce risky teen driving and decision making is through peer education.

Participating in the meeting with the governor was State Farm Agent Pam Newcombe, State Farm Public Affairs specialists John Wiscaver and Jeff Davis, Ada teacher Krystal Joplin, and students from her leadership classes - Amber Mayhue, Eboni Rushing, Jenni Bolin, Katie Reddick, Chris Nguyen and Carson Taylor.

Project Ignition is a forum through which students develop communication programs that address risky driving behaviors such as seat belt use, speeding, impaired driving and distractions while behind the wheel, like using a cell phone, eating or fumbling for a CD.

Schools involved in this program select a topic and plan a way to market and communicate their message.

Through a competitive process, 25 schools across the nation each receive a $2,000 grant in September to implement their communication campaigns. Up to 10 of the projects completed by the end of November are selected for competition at the State Farm Companies Foundation-sponsored National Service-Learning Conference convened by NYLC. One school is selected as the winner and to receive a $10,000 grant to continue their safety program. Ada High School won this grant to continue their programs throughout Oklahoma.

Service-learning is a teaching method which supplements classroom studies with hands-on projects that address community issues.

Nationwide, 5,691 teenagers 13-19 died in motor vehicle crashes in 2003, an average of nearly 16 teen lives lost a day, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.