Brandywine Heights High School students received a surprise at a Celebrate My Drive assembly Nov. 26.
For the second year in a row, Brandywine has been awarded a $25,000 grant through the State Farm Celebrate My Drive program.
Steve Drasher and the school worked together on Nov. 26 to surprise students with a special assembly.
“The only people that know about this are the Superintendent, the principal and the SADD members,” said Steve Drasher, the area’s local State Farm agent.
Students Against Destructive Decisions, SADD, is a student group facilitated by teacher Michelle Moore. It is through this group that the school became involved with State Farm’s program.
“They think they are getting a school-wide picture taken for the yearbook,” said Moore. “They’re not.”
As the students filed into the auditorium, they found their seats decorated with red Celebrate My Drive t-shirts.
Drasher promptly introduced himself and announced the big news.
“Across the nation, over 3,000 schools participated this year in Celebrate My Drive, and from those schools, there were more than 6,000,000 safe driving commitments made,” he said. “Just think of the all the other schools wishing they were having this assembly right now.”
The students cheered.After presenting the check, Drasher invited Moore to the stage to say a few words.
“Five years ago, this week, I went to the principal and assistant principal and asked if I could start up a SADD chapter,” said Moore. “The reason is that a student who was very dear to me, I had the student for four years, had passed away. I had three members back then and no resources.”
Moore went on to explain that it took several years before another teacher informed her about State Farm’s Celebrate My Drive.
“We joined the campaign last year with six SADD students at the time,” she said. “We ranked in the 20s, and because of that, membership has grown to 54 students.”
Celebrate My Drive requires the students to pro-actively engage their families and communities, and the awards are based on voting.
“The schools have to register, and then students have to get people to go online and vote, and they vote themselves,” said Drasher. “Before they submit each vote, they have to answer two safe driving questions. They can answer wrong and still get to vote, though.”
Brandywine students worked diligently, and community-wide, for this year’s award.
“This award was student-driven, student-earned and the funds will be decided by students,” said Principal Josh Ziatyk. “Give yourselves a round of applause for being the best school in PA. You are an amazing group of students, and I truly mean that.”
Superintendent Andrew Potteiger congratulated the students.
“To see the SADD team grow, to see more than 50 students involved, to see the marketing students involved… it is amazing what our high school does,” he said. “For two years in a row, you guys have done such a phenomenal job.”
Representatives Gary Day and Ryan Mackenzie, as well as Senator Judy Schwank attended the assembly.
The students got another surprise when Senator Schwank presented them with a certificate of recognition from the PA State Senate.
“On behalf of the state legislators that are here, I want to say how proud we are of you and what you’re doing,” she said. “You’re making a name for ourselves, a really good name, in this corner of the county, that great things are happening.”
Students put on their red shirts for a final group photo, and then Principal Ziatyk announced an early dismissal because of snow, the surprise for which the students cheered the loudest.
The grant awarded will be used to fund Post Prom, as well as a number of other activities.
For more information on Celebrate My Drive, visit www.celebratemydrive.com.
