SADD is an organization devoted to prevention of drunk driving, risky and impaired driving, teen violence and teen suicide. The high school hosts one of the 10,000 chapters of SADD, which are located at middle schools, high schools and colleges across the country.
The contest required students to come up with a safe driving campaign with three goals: gain school involvement, media engagement and community interaction. Northwestern students came up with the “Drive Smart, Drive Safe” campaign, which featured in-school announcements, “Rules of the Road” videos, educational posters and activities aimed at getting the student body involved.
Northwestern SADD chapter President Jason Detemer said he was caught off-guard by the news that his chapter won.
“I felt humbled and inspired,” Detemer said in an email. “While I believed that our chapter came up with a good submission, I did not expect that it would win the grand prize.”
One activity that helped the team to win the prize was “blindside basketball,” where students tried to play hoops while wearing goggles that simulated blurred vision and cut off peripheral vision.
“The blindside basketball idea arose as part of one of our brainstorming sessions, and was the product of many people’s imagination,” Detemer said. “We were inspired by the drunk goggles which we had used previously, which started as a horse blinders activity.”
Northwestern SADD advisor and biology teacher Miranda Cromwell said she gets the opportunity to see her SADD students in a different light than most.
“I get to work with kids in a different aspect,” Cromwell said. “Every year I have a few students who are really excited and dedicated.”
Cromwell has taught at Northwestern High School for nine years and advises around 60 students in the SADD program. She said the group stays busy with events throughout the year, including seatbelt checks and red ribbon week.
“Northwestern students are dedicated to the safety of their fellow students,” Superintendent Tony Orr said. “It’s one way they exemplify their vision.”
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