July 10, 2015
For Immediate Release
Contact: Chris Flynn
(703) 716-1309
cflynn@fcclainc.org
FCCLA CHAPTERS WIN $2,500 IN PRIZES
FOR FACTS (Families Acting for Community Traffic Safety) PROJECTS
RESTON, Va. — Keota High School FCCLA (Oklahoma) and Montgomery County
Middle School FCCLA (Missouri) were selected as the high school and middle school
(respectively) recipients of the 2015 National Families Acting for Community Traffic
Safety (FACTS) Award, sponsored by Family, Career and Community Leaders of
America (FCCLA), and each school received a $1,000 prize at the FCCLA National
Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. earlier this week. . Brookings Senior High
School FCCLA (South Dakota) was also recognized as the runner-up winner and
received $500.
The goal of the FCCLA program is to save lives through sober driving, seat belt use, and
safe driving habits. The purpose of the FACTS award program is to encourage local
chapter members to identify a specific community traffic safety problem and carry out an
innovative project to address that need. Using their Family and Consumer Sciences
skills, members can take the lead in their communities and show how youth can make a
difference.
"Traffic safety is everyone’s responsibility, and saving lives requires innovative ideas
down to the local level,” said Mark Rosekind, administrator of the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration. “The winners of the FACTS Awards are making a real
difference for safety in their communities.”
As part of their project titled, “Stop Distracted Driving…We Are the Solution,” Keota
FCCLA members conducted a survey to determine the extent of cell phone use while
driving. They were disturbed by the results and set out to make a change and to “Stop
Distracted Driving”. They formed a partnership with their local Project Safe to conduct a
conference for teens. The conference featured student drivers who had been in accidents
due to distracted driving, and adults and other community members who had touching
stories to share. At the end of the conference, faculty and students were asked to sign a
pledge to not let phones distract them while driving and to take away their phones while
in the car.
In their campaign, “Buckle Up for Safety,” Montgomery County Middle School FCCLA
members established their goal of spreading the word and teaching others about car
safety. Chapter members developed a Seat Belt Safety presentation for middle school
students. Students were given a pre-survey and post-survey to determine numbers
wearing seat belts. Students used the following resources: Think First, Battle of the Belt,
NOYS, and Arrive Alive.
Brookings Senior High School created a texting and driving awareness campaign titled,
“Yes, We’re Talking to You!” which included making announcements over their
school’s intercom, and hanging posters showing the shocking statistics of texting and
driving. In addition, “R.I.P tombs” posted statistics that showed how much loss we suffer
because of texting. They created a Docudrama that featured several students involved in a
simulated texting and driving car accident. All 400+ juniors and seniors came out to the
parking lot to witness the texting and driving accident scene. The simulated driving scene
made a huge impact on the student body.
Family, Career and Community Leaders of America is a dynamic national student
organization that helps young men and women become leaders and address important
personal, family, work, and societal issues through Family and Consumer Sciences
education. FCCLA has nearly 175,000 members and over 5,200 chapters from 49 state
associations, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. The organization has involved more
than ten million youth since founded in 1945.
FCCLA: The Ultimate Leadership Experience is unique among youth organizations
because its programs are planned and run by members. It is the only career and technical
in-school student organization with the family as its central focus. Participation in
national programs and chapter activities helps members become strong leaders in their
families, careers, and communities.
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