MADD Colorado and Nationwide to Recognize Think at North High School's Video
Contest Winner
Teens Encouraged to Pledge to Party Safe and Sober During Prom
DENVER, May 6 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD)
Colorado and the Felicia D. Medina Insurance Agency, a Nationwide Company will
recognize Robert Ortega, a Senior North High School student and winner of the
Party Safe, Party Sober video contest. Mothers Against Drunk Driving's (MADD)
THINK.Prom program, which is nationally sponsored by Nationwide Mutual
Insurance Company (Nationwide), asks students to pledge to be alcohol and drug
free during prom.
"We are proud to work with Nationwide to provide the THINK.Prom program
because the choices students make today impact their lives tomorrow," said
Tiffany Hanson, MADD Colorado Youth Program Specialist. "To make sure
friendships aren't cut short due to alcohol or drugs, we are encouraging teens
to make a promise to each other, leave alcohol out of prom, never ride with
someone who's been drinking and to buckle up. We want students to remember
every detail of one of the biggest nights of the year."
Statistics show that traffic deaths among teens during typical prom season
weekends (March 1-May 31) are higher than any other time of year. In 2005,
290 young people ages 15-20 were killed in alcohol-related crashes--of those
198 deaths involved a 15-20 year-old impaired driver.
This year, North High School students were invited to participate in the,
"Party Safe, Party Sober" video contest. Students were encouraged to create
two-minute videos for their peers focusing on making healthy choices and
choosing to wait until 21 to drink alcohol. The winning student, Robert
Ortega received his $500 prize from the Felicia D. Medina Insurance Agency, A
Nationwide Company on May 6, 2009 during the school's Senior Awards Night.
During the Awards, Robert's winning video premiered to fellow students and
North High School parents. Robert went through great lengths to get his video
in by the April 17, 2009 deadline. Not only did his computer crash after
finishing his first video, but then after finishing the second, he could not
upload the file. Robert's school counselor, Pat Salas, took his video on
flash drive, through the April rain storm and with school closed, to the MADD
Colorado State Office to make sure it was received. Robert stated that his
video really says it all in regards to underage drinking prevention, "One
choice can change your life forever. Don't become a statistic, because you
deserve a future!"
"We hope this contest will get teens thinking and talking about the choices
they will make before, during and after prom," said Felicia Medina. "Teens
are extremely creative and tech-savvy these days, and we look forward to
showcasing their work while promoting a fun prom without alcohol. Everyone
wins when students have a safe and memorable event."
THINK.Prom is part of the THINK. year-round, alcohol-use prevention program
launched last fall at North High School by MADD and Nationwide to empower
students to pledge to be alcohol and drug free all year. The peer-to-peer,
accountability program provides consistent, positive and lifesaving messages
to young people who receive many inconsistent messages about alcohol from
friends, siblings and even parents.
Alcohol is the No. 1 drug problem among youth killing more young people than
all other illicit drugs combined. More than 6,000 young people die each year
due to alcohol-related causes including traffic crashes. In 2005, 2,035 15-20
year olds were killed in alcohol-related traffic crashes. Of those, 1,387
youth aged 15-20 died in crashes involving a 15-20 year-old alcohol-impaired
driver.
For more information on the THINK.Prom program, video contest or materials,
visit think.madd.org.
MADD has a long-standing history of supporting safe choices among today's
youth in schools and in communities. MADD's in-school education and
prevention programs for elementary to high school students include Protecting
You/Protecting Me, multimedia assembly shows and class packs, Youth In Action,
AlcoholEdu for High School and Red Ribbon week materials. MADD also works with
young people, law enforcement and the entire community to limit alcohol access
to youth.
Founded in 1980, MADD's mission is to stop drunk driving, support the victims
of this violent crime and prevent underage drinking. MADD is a 501(c)(3)
non-profit, grassroots organization with approximately 400 affiliates and 2
million members and supporters nationwide. For more information, please visit
www.madd.org or call (800) GET-MADD.
Nationwide, based in Columbus, Ohio, is a diversified insurance and financial
services organization, with more than $158 billion in assets. The company
provides a full range of insurance and financial services.
(www.nationwide.com)
SOURCE Mothers Against Drunk Driving Colorado
Tiffany Hanson, +1-303-425-5902, for Mothers Against Drunk Driving Colorado
