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Celebrate My Drive promotes safe teen driving

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State Farm agent Theresa Lamb and her staff race through the quick click challenge. Photo by Delaney Smith
State Farm agent Theresa Lamb and her staff race through the quick click challenge. Photo by Delaney Smith

Photos by Delaney Smith and Rachel Lamb

By Christian DiMartino and Sidney Reynolds

In honor of National Teen Driving Safety Week, State Farm sponsored the annual Celebrate My Drive event hosted by Theresa Lamb at FC. It helps teach teens the importance of driving safely through various games and activities.

“I had so much funning playing the Chinese fire drill. I think it helps teach how easy it is to just wear your seat belt while driving and to encourage it,” said sophomore Ryan Stone.

The weather was cold, being in the 40s, but did not keep people from coming to the event. To help keep participants warm they were also treated to free pizza, soda, and popcorn.

“The food was really good and I think it helped make people want to come to the event,” said Stone.

Many students went because they received extra credit for their driver education classes.

“I think it’s good experience for students since we can’t do this in the class room and we don’t want them to experience first hand,” said drivers education instructor Joe Cerqueira.

The games were designed to help teach students what the consequences can be if they make poor decisions behind the wheel. Some of the popular games there included a simulated texting while driving video game, playing catch while wearing drunk goggles, and posing in a wrecked car with two people dressed up as car wreck victims.

“To see a car damaged really showed teens what could happen. Even though I came for extra credit I had a good time and gained a lot of important information,” said sophomore Chloe Everle.

The Greenville Fire Department and Floyd County Sheriff’s office came to help out and run some of the activities there.

“The texting and driving simulation is the newest activity here. It teaches teens how dangerous it can be. If they wrecked in the simulation I hope they will remember that next time and just put the phone down,” said Officer Mark Spurgeon.

Students are encouraged to vote for FC online at the Celebrate My Drive website for a chance to win $100,000 and a concert from Kelly Clarkson. Any money won this year will go to FC Dance Marathon.

“I hope everyone votes. It would be awesome if we won and got a concert from Kelly Clarkson. It would also be nice to help out the Riley kids through Dance Marathon,” said Stone.

Next year Lamb is hoping to continue educating people on driving safely. “Teens are more apt to get accidents due to inexperience and being distracted by such things as texting, other people, and the radio. Education is the key,” said Lamb.

Sophomores Ryan Jennings and Hunter Hampton throw a ball back and forthwhile wear drunk goggles. Photo by Delaney Smith
Sophomores Ryan Jennings and Hunter Hampton throw a ball back and forthwhile wear drunk goggles. Photo by Delaney Smith

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Fox41News camera man shoots footage of sophomore Alexis Moody beating her opponent in a race. Photo by Rachel Lamb
Fox41News camera man shoots footage of sophomore Alexis Moody beating her opponent in a race. Photo by Rachel Lamb
Sophomore Bessmah Elashawah takes the texting and drving simulator test. Photo by Rachel Lamb
Sophomore Bessmah Elashawah takes the texting and drving simulator test. Photo by Rachel Lamb
Fireman from Greenville Fire Department demonstrate how they would take care of car crash victims. Photo by Rachel Lamb
Fireman from Greenville Fire Department demonstrate how they would take care of car crash victims. Photo by Rachel Lamb
Sophomore Brandon Lacy trys throwing a ball with drunk googles on. Photo by Rachel Lamb
Sophomore Brandon Lacy trys throwing a ball with drunk googles on. Photo by Rachel Lamb
The good neigh-bear shakes Floyd Conunty Sheriff Darrell Mill's hand. Photo by Rachel Lamb
The good neigh-bear shakes Floyd Conunty Sheriff Darrell Mill’s hand. Photo by Rachel Lamb
Sophomores Sarah Parker and Chloe Eberly race while texting on their phone. Photo by Delaney Smith
Sophomores Sarah Parker and Chloe Eberly race while texting on their phone. Photo by Delaney Smith
Senior Timon Stermer plays a good role as the State Farm good neigh-bear. Photo by Delaney Smith
Senior Timon Stermer plays a good role as the State Farm good neigh-bear. Photo by Delaney Smith
News, Peter Hyle

Celebrate My Drive event proves to be a success

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By Peter Hyle

Many new drivers at FC can agree that the Celebrate My Drive event, sponsored by State Farm was held  at FC on Saturday,was successful. Filled with games,  food, and lots of excitement, the event was everything it promised to be.

All of last week, State Farm agents and volunteers worked hard to promote the event and make sure everyone had their chance to vote.

According to sophomore Tanner Nifong, the promoting was effective. “They put a lot of signs and tables up to grab our attention.”

All the promoting had a sincere reason behind it, a point that they wanted to get through to new drivers.

“I think it created awareness, and we did a lot of relevant and important activities to help new drivers learn as much as they could,” said the State Farm representative in charge of the event, Theresa Lamb.

The location of the event had a major part in its overall success.

“It was a really good space because it’s spread out and in a comfortable environment, not crowded. And it was amazing weather, so they picked a great day to do it,” said junior Caroline Wiseman, a volunteer  at the event.

FC staff members also took their part in making this event possible.

“The whole staff was great, the idea was well received to them. They helped me with the planning and setting up and the timing of the event,” said Lamb.

Aside from benefiting the new drivers themselves, the event was beneficial to many others in different ways.

“Teens in general have to deal with inexperienced driving. It’s a benefit to everyone because these kind of programs will hopefully increase safety among teens,” said Lamb.

Being the first year for The Celebrate My Drive event to take place, it is sure to be seen again in the years to come for FC.

“They are our future, they have to be prepared for the road. We have to spread awareness now,” said Lamb.

Peter Hyle

New student drivers to participate in tomorrow’s Celebrate My Drive event

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By Peter Hyle

Learning to drive a car is a major part of everybody’s life. It allows teenagers to take themselves to the places they want to go and gives them a sense of freedom. Driving is an important and necessary part in a person’s life, yet it can also be extremely dangerous.

According to the Center for Disease Control, the number one killer of teens in the United States is car crashes. This is why students learning how to drive need to know how to safely operate and maneuver vehicles before they are out on the road alone and possibly in dangerous situations.

Tomorrow, FC will be one of hundreds of schools all around the U.S. and Canada taking part in the Celebrate My Drive event, a program designed to prepare and support new drivers for the open road.

“We’re celebrating the fact that they [new drivers] can drive, but at the same time inform them of the risks of driving,” said Theresa Lamb, the State Farm Agent that has been responsible for promoting this event  at FC.

To get ready required a lot of time and help to ensure that the event can be as helpful and fun as possible.

“I’ve spent about two months preparing for this,” said Lamb. “I’ve had a lot of help from students and parents that have volunteered.”

Sponsoring Celebrate My Drive, State Farm has also thrown in bonus prizes on top of the event itself. With the help of students all across the country going online and voting, 14 local schools have the chance of winning a $100,000 grant. Fourteen brand new cars will be rewarded to students who participate in the voting process online. With all of the promoting and setting up, the event seems to have caught the eye of many FC students.

“They [the school] have done an excellent job promoting the event,” said freshman Evan Cambron. “They made sure we knew what was going on with all of the tables in the spine.”

They also gave students other opportunities to learn about the event.

“They [the school] have provided a lot of information on the announcements,” said sophomore Isaiah Coffee.

Going on in the band parking lot here at FC, from 11 a.m.-2 p.m., the event will have interactive games, food, refreshments, giveaways, and music.

“Free food, free drinks, and free cars. There’s nothing better,” said Coffee.

Preparing and working for this event was all for the benefit of the new drivers here at FC. They want to teach students the rules of the road with a supportive, instructive, positive approach.

“Such a scary time for parents can be a really fun time for students. They’ll be out there on their own and need to know how to be safe. Hopefully, I can keep doing this for many more years,” said Lamb.