Mark Claussen, Norfolk High School (Norfolk, Nebraska) Junior Optimist Octagon Club Advisor, along with students, Taylor Ewald and Brooke Gettman, and Nebraska State Patrol Trooper Bill Price just returned from San Diego where they accepted the National Safety Council’s 2014 Teen Driving Safety Leadership Award for their continued efforts to support safe teen driving within the community.
Mr. Claussen states that Norfolk High School has been working alongside other community leaders since 2005 and efforts continue to be successful thanks to programs like State Farm’s Celebrate My Drive, Teens in the Driver Seat, AT&T’s It Can Wait, and NOYS’ Act out Loud. Norfolk is one of only 25 communities in the U.S. to be recognized with the “Safe Communities America” designation from the National Safety Council. Kathy Bernstein, Senior Manager for Teen Driving Initiatives for the National Safety Council, states “because of programs like theirs, we will continue to make our roads safer and ensure our youngest, most vulnerable drivers navigate the learning process safely and effectively.”
The Norfolk High School Junior Optimist Octagon Club is a great example of a thriving club that has successfully used multiple resources available to spread the safe driving message in their community. Congratulations to this group of teens who continue to make a difference and big kudos to their advisor for his efforts to continue to involve young teens in this critical initiative to save lives. Keep on making a difference, Panthers!
The Nebraska Teens in the Driver Seat program is generously supported through funding from Nebraska Office of Highway Safety, Drive Safe Nebraska, AAA, and Nebraska Safety Council.