For the second year in a row, Warren County High School won a $25,000 prize through State Farm’s Celebrate My Drive promotion.
More than 1,660 high schools in the United States and Canada competed in the large-school category. State Farm awarded five prizes of $100,000 and 45 prizes of $25,000. The grand prize was a concert by Grammy-nominated The Band Perry.
Said State Farm agent and School Board member Bill Zechman, “The State Farm agents in McMinnville are immensely proud of our Warren County High School students and faculty. It was a major effort to be in the ranks of the top 50 high schools in our size category across the United States and Canada. We could not have achieved this success without the support of the community.”
For their efforts in promoting the contest, WCHS teachers Jessica Akers, Jamie Branin, Paddy Smith, and Amy Ware were presented with bouquets of flowers.
The money comes with virtually no strings attached. Per State Farm guidelines, 10 percent of it has to go toward safe driving initiatives.
The rest of the money can be spent as the school administration sees fit. Last year, WCHS used the money to buy archery equipment and 27 computers.
This year, in addition to the 10 percent allotted for driver education, WCHS executive principal Jimmy Walker had told the participating clubs supporting the campaign they would be given 10 percent to be divided among those organizations.
Contest winners were determined by online voting, which was from Oct. 15-24. Entrants could vote once a day per email address. The vote represented a personal commitment to follow safe driving rules at all times.
According to Zechman, there is some interest in changing the school calendar slightly so fall break will be either before or after National Teen Driver Safety Week, which is when the annual contest is held.
Said Zechman, “A major impediment in Warren County’s efforts has been having school out the week of the drive.”
Zechman wanted to thank Jeff’s Towing Service for, in cooperation with the Tennessee Highway Patrol, delivering a wrecked vehicle to the high school to demonstrate the possible consequences of distracted driving, and Rogers Group Highway Builders for the loan of an electronic sign board used to announce Celebrate My Drive.