(LOS ANGELES, February 21, 2006) — Eleven Southern California students have received recognition for their creative work in the AAA National School Traffic Safety Poster Contest.
"Traffic collisions are the leading cause of death among children and young people," said Carol Thorp, spokesperson for the Automobile Club of Southern California. "During 2004 in California, 154 young people ages five through 14 were killed and 21,668 were injured in traffic collisions. For teen drivers, passengers, pedestrians and bicyclists ages 15 through 19, there were 38,422 killed or injured in auto crashes. The contest allows kindergartners to 12th graders to use their creativity to interpret safety messages that could save many lives."
Andrew Willow, an eighth-grader at John Burroughs Middle School in Los Angeles, earned a 1st place award and $100 for his poster depicting the traffic safety theme "Helmet Safety." His teacher is K. Broudy.
Xochilt Estrada, a kindergartener at Our Lady of Loretto School in Los Angeles, earned a 1st place award and $100 for her poster depicting the traffic safety theme "Night Time Visibility." Her teacher is Nancy Menendez. Dianne Jamandron, a fourth-grader at Atwater Elementary School in Los Angeles, earned a 2nd place award and $75 for her poster depicting the traffic safety theme "Helmet Safety." Her teacher is Mrs. Galvez.
Tiffanie Mang, an eighth-grader at U.S. Arts Education Center in San Diego, earned a 2nd place award and $75 for her poster depicting the traffic safety theme "Buckle Up." Her teacher is Mr. Jiang.
Wyatt Dean, a fifth-grader at Hope Lutheran School in Glendora, earned a 1st place award and $100 for his poster depicting the traffic safety theme "Helmet Safety." His teacher is Nancy Bristol.
Rebecca Costa, a fifth-grader at St. Raymond School in Downey, earned a 3rd place award and $50 for her poster depicting the traffic safety theme "Helmet Safety." Her teacher is D. Rush.
Kim Kanegawa, a tenth-grader at Ayala High School in Chino Hills, earned a 3rd place award and $50 for her poster depicting the traffic safety theme "Alcohol Awareness." Her teacher is Sue De Villez.
Rachel Smith, an 11th-grader at Tehachapi High School in Tehachapi, earned a 1st place award and $100 for her poster depicting the traffic safety theme "Alcohol Awareness." Caylee Huckabay, a 12th-grader at Tehachapi High School earned a second place award and $75 for depicting the same traffic safety theme. Their teacher is Carol Horst.
Kirstin Casner, a second-grader at Annunciation School in Monrovia, earned a 2nd place award and $75 for her poster depicting the traffic safety theme "Night Time Visibility." Her teacher is Raylon D'Costa. Carolina Mouna, an eighth-grader at Dana Middle School in Arcadia received a 3rd place award and $50 for her poster depicting the traffic safety theme "Buckle Up."
The Auto Club reproduces some of the winning posters and distributes them free of charge to schools throughout Southern California to remind students about traffic safety issues.
"Thousands of students enter the poster competition every year," Thorp said. "And all of the students help AAA bring important but often overlooked traffic safety messages to the forefront. The competition emphasizes the essential role education plays in these issues.
The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest AAA affiliate, has been serving members since 1900. Today, Auto Club members benefit by the organization's roadside assistance, financial products, travel agency and trip planning services, highway and transportation safety programs, insurance products and services and automotive pricing, buying and financing programs. Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's web site at www.aaa.com.
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