When seven kids traveled to a service-learning conference in Long Beach, Calif., they had no idea what they were about to get themselves into.
They had gone there to promote Carson High School's driver awareness program, "Every Second Counts."
After previewing the 10 finalists' programs, they became inspired. They knew that they could do this project, and they knew with what they saw and learned, they could make a much stronger and very effective program.
So, once they got back to Carson City they buckled down and began to write a grant proposal for the driver awareness program named Project Ignition. Only 25 schools are picked out of over 500 that apply. But that didn't stop them.
Before the school year was out, they discovered that not only had they been selected to receive a $2,000 grant, but they were also the highest ranked proposal out of all of the applicants. The program was named "Building Awareness ... Taking Action."
This new grant takes a far more interactive approach to the driver awareness program. The students putting this together believe that teenagers learn much more by doing rather than hearing. Their project - in four separate sections - focuses on both visual and interactive programs.
The first section of the project is the poster contest, where elementary, middle school, and high school students express their feeling about driver awareness. The winning posters will be shown around the community.
The second section is a remembrance tile wall dedicated to the families who have lost love ones to fatal car accidents. The third section involves the high school's video production class producing hard-hitting documentaries and PSAs.
And, finally, the last part is the biggest and most important. At what first began as a small Driver Awareness Fair has now grown into a massive Community Awareness Fair.
The fair will focus on three community issues, driver awareness, drug awareness/prevention and local veteran stories. Many organizations are heavily participating in this fair. These include, but are not limited to, the fire department, sheriff's office, Nevada Highway Patrol, Community Council on Youth, Stand Tall Don't Fall and many more.
The fair kicks off with a Run for Safer Choices at the Carson High School Track at 8 a.m. Everyone is welcome. Runners are welcome to run as much or as little as they want.
There will be an ongoing Battle of the Bands in the afternoon geared toward drawing in a teenage crowd. Some if the documentaries/PSAs will also be shown during this event.
Some of the interactive games include Drunk Goggle Basketball and a Safe Golf Cart Driving Course. And to top things off, there will be tons of free food and drinks available. The fair runs from 9:30 am-4 p.m. Oct. 22. Come to support not only a positive community, but also a positive future for teenagers.
n Tyler Bourns is a student in the advanced video production class at Carson High School.
If you go
What: CHS Community Awareness Fair
When: 9:30-4 p.m. Oct. 22
Activities: A "Run for Safer Choices," a Battle of the Bands, Drunk Goggle Basketball and more
Cost: Free
Information: Call Brian Reedy at Carson High School at 283-1652