Cathleen Allison/ Nevada Appeal Gus Miranda, with State Farm, gives Project Ignition team members faux "director's chairs" during a presentation at Carson High School Wednesday. From left, Greg Saunders, Tyler Bourns and Heidi Flansberg, and team members not pictured, Lydia Peri and Alejandra Melgarejo, will compete for $10,000 in Philadelphia in March with their driver awareness project.
Carson High School advanced video production students who worked on a project for a State Farm competition promoting safety awareness will compete for the top $10,000 prize March 24-25 in Philadelphia.
Their project, "Building Awareness, Taking Action," has kept the group of five busy in their spare time with activities like a community awareness fair, erection of signs in yards along high-speed areas asking drivers to slow down and a remembrance wall commemorating teenagers who have died in vehicle accidents in the area.
The students found out from teacher Brian Reedy recently that they made it to the top 10. They have a presentation to prepare before they leave.
The team includes: Heidi Flansberg, Greg Saunders, Lydia Peri, Alejandra Melgarejo and Tyler Bourns.
"It was kinda a big sigh of relief," said Tyler, the project manager of the group, about finding out they made it to the top 10.
Instead of telling the team as a group, Reedy told Tyler and let the other four know through an announcement on the intercom.
"Mr. Reedy was kind of funny," Heidi said. "He had the anchor announce it at school. It was really surprising to me. And I said, 'You didn't call all of us in to tell us,' and he said if he had done that, we all would've known."
State Farm recognized the students Tuesday in an early morning presentation given by Gus Miranda, State Farm regional public information officer. He gave them each red director-like chairs to acknowledge their progress.
"I want to wish you the best of luck in Philadelphia," he said. "I will be there rooting for you."
The students then traveled to the Governor's Office and were given a proclamation recognizing them for their project. They posed as a group with Gov. Kenny Guinn and then for individual and family shots with the governor.
"It's kind of exciting," said Tyler. "It's icing on the cake pretty much. To be honored by the governor is a big deal for us."
"I'm so proud," whispered Greg's mother, Lilly.
Also present at the governor's office were some of the community individuals who supported the project, including Sheriff Kenny Furlong, Deputy Lisa Davis, Principal Fred Perdomo, Superintendent Mary Pierczynski, State Farm Agent Bret Andreas and several of the students' parents.
This is the second year a team of students from Carson High has competed. Last year students made it in the top 10, and received the best action sequence award. The students still need $1,000 more to cover travel expenses for this year.
"It seems like they really went above and beyond this year," said Andreas. "And the amount of work they did is incredible. Hopefully, they'll go on and win the big one."
-- Contact reporter Maggie O'Neill at moneill@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.
'Slow down, our kids matter' signs
• Nearly 10 signs a week were purchased by residents after students put them up through the community last November.
• "I'd love to see more people in the community buying those signs," said teacher Brian Reedy. "I'd like to see some more attention come to that."
• He said the community should continue promoting safe driving awareness, particularly at a time when three teenagers have died recently in auto accidents.
• To purchase a sign for $5, call Sign Pro at 887-8817.