Once again, safe driving is the issue that has garnered support from Quincy High School students.
The school is among the 105 Illinois schools participating in the 2011-12 version of Operation Teen Safe Driving, a statewide initiative that encourages teens to educate their peers about driving responsibly.
A $2,000 grant was recently received by each school from the Illinois Department of Transportation's Division of Traffic Safety. The money will be used by QHS to launch a student-run educational campaign starting in December and finishing with a weeklong series of events in February.
The objective of the program is to raise awareness among students about the importance of making smart driving decisions, the message being conveyed directly by fellow students.
Stacie Rossiter, a QHS Student Council advisor who co-sponsors the school's OTSD program with fellow teacher Maranda Meyer, said: "It really is very much student-driven.The kids come up with the ideas. They do the planning for it. They make the contacts in terms of guest speakers and things like that."
Ahe further added that the program has proven effective in helping QHS students become more aware of the importance of wearing seatbelts and the dangers of distracted driving.
Co-sponsored by IDOT, the Ford Motor Company Fund and the Allstate Foundation, the program is witnessing participation from QHS for the fifth straight year.