Oxford, Seymour High Schools Win Driving Safety Program Award

The following news release was submitted by Rich Kearns, the director of security at Seymour High School.

Toyota and Discovery Education announced this week the Grand Prize and First Place winners of the “Toyota Teen Driver Educators’ Challenge.” For the challenge, educators across the country were tasked with developing three 90-minute project-based driving safety lessons for high school students. The winning lessons will function as public service announcements for the winners’ schools and community regarding safe teen driving.

The Grand Prize Winner of the “2011 Toyota Teen Driver Educators’ Challenge” is Seymour High School and their partner Oxford High School. The team, , consisted of: Seymour High School Educator Nick Aprea, Seymour Public Schools Director of Security Rich Kearns, Seymour High School Assistant Principal Paul Lucke, Seymour Police Department Youth Officer Joseph DeNigris and Oxford High School Resource Officer Dave Ives put together the teen safe driving project that was submitted to the challenge.

The Grand Prize valued up to $250,000 will introduce the in-person “Toyota Driving Expectations Program” event for both schools. Toyota Driving expectations is a program for teen drivers and their parents that has educated nearly 18,000 participants since 2004. The program takes teens the next step beyond driver’s education and introduces “real world” obstacles, conditions and distractions in a safe and controlled driving environment on three challenging road courses designed by Toyota experts, using new Toyota vehicles with certified instructors. Teens and their parents will be able to drive these courses.

The two day hands-on event is scheduled to take place at Seymour High School on October 29th and 30th and will be open to all teen drivers and their parents from both communities free of charge. The program will be an invaluable experience for teens and their parents to participate in.

The first place winners were from Lawrence County Schools in Moulton Alabama receiving a $34,000 prize package for their school.

Officials from Toyota and Discovery Education came across the Country and met this week in Seymour to start finalizing plans for the fall event which takes place at Seymour High School on October 29th and 30th. Additional information will be announced as the event date comes closer this Fall.      

For additional information about the Toyota teen driver program please see: toyotateendriver.discoveryeducation.com.