California students competing in safe-driving contest

California High School senior Allan Burger, president of National Honor Society, discussed the Pintos Drive Safe campaign with area business leaders Thursday in advance of the 10-day event beginning Oct. 15. Other campaign leaders include, from left, Library Media Specialist Janet Henley; Matt Oerly, student body vice president; Abby Strickfaden, member of the school leadership class; and Rylee Glenn, student body president.
California High School senior Allan Burger, president of National Honor Society, discussed the Pintos Drive Safe campaign with area business leaders Thursday in advance of the 10-day event beginning Oct. 15. Other campaign leaders include, from left, Library Media Specialist Janet Henley; Matt Oerly, student body vice president; Abby Strickfaden, member of the school leadership class; and Rylee Glenn, student body president.

CALIFORNIA, Mo. -- Driving too fast on gravel roads or turning one's head during a conversation are dangerous choices behind the wheel.

California High School seniors Matt Oerly and Allan Burger know that all too well. Both were involved in separate car accidents as young drivers and are sharing those lessons as part of a student leadership campaign promoting Pintos Drive Safe.

The local campaign is part of a program hosted by State Farm Insurance, which will donate $100,000 to 10 schools and $25,000 to 90 schools, divided by school size.

The school leadership class has been developing strategies to win the pot of free money for several months, said library media specialist Janet Henley.

The message has been taken to social media in a YouTube video, as well as a Facebook page and Twitter account. Organizers have spoken to several community businesses and have distributed inserts for local church bulletins.

"It's a great program - they're not soliciting funds, just support," said Brandon Garber of Commerce Bank.

The local bank branch has nine employees, who will be encouraged to pledge each day, and they will send the information to neighboring branches and the Central Missouri regional office.

All of the students' efforts will culminate the 10 days of Oct. 15-24.

That's when anyone age 14 with an email address may log into celebratemydrive.com, select California, Missouri, High School, answer two survey questions and commit to safe driving. The process may be repeated each day through the contest.

"We want to blow it out of the water," Henley said.

Winning schools will be selected by the number votes they receive.

Henley hopes for a minimum of 2,000 votes each day - that's about the equivalent of four votes for each high school student.

Leaders are counting on the Pintos' competitive streak to keep momentum going through the 10-day voting period.

Since Southern Boone High School won in the program's first year and Rock Bridge High School won last year, they've decided, "if they can do it, so can we."

If earned, winnings will be used to support a safe-driving campaign at the school. The remainder will provide hardware upgrades to school technology, including iPads and laptops.

The recent bond issue passed overwhelmingly, thanks to community support. This campaign was a smart way to keep that cooperation going, said student Abby Strickfaden.