The Robotic Club at Great Bend High School is promoting seat belt use, club sponsor Jake Hofflinger said.
The students participated in a statewide program called SAFE (Seatbelts Are For Everyone).
First they conducted a survey in the GBHS parking lot. For two consecutive days before the start of school, they counted how many students were wearing seat belts.
“Then we do a campaign of seat belt awareness throughout the year,” Hofflinger said. “The campaign includes chalking sidewalks, running posters and campaign slogans on hallway TVs, sending emails to students and a monthly raffle for prizes for any student who is willing to pledge that they will wear a seat belt that month.”
Students will conduct another survey at the end of the year to see if the campaign made an impact on student choice for wearing seat belts.
The GBHS Robotics Club was rewarded for its work with a $2,555 donation from DCCCA Inc., for participating in the SAFE program.
Based in Lawrence, DCCCA provides social and community services that improve the safety, health, and well-being. Its seat belt programs target the most vulnerable populations and geographical areas in the state with education and resources. SAFE materials are provided through the Kansas Traffic Safety Resource Office, which notes, “Seat belts are proven to help save lives and they are your best defense when involved in a crash.” For child passenger safety, KTSRO also offers instruction to technicians around the state and assists families with car seat installations.
GBHS is the only SAFE participant in Barton County for 2023-2024. There are two participants in Stafford County, and one each in Rice, Ellsworth and Rush counties.
On Oct. 28, Hofflinger provided additional information:
We took this on as a fundraiser. We were looking at our options and School Resource Officer Millard brought this opportunity to us and we jumped at it. It’s a fundraiser that offers our club the opportunity to provide a service to the student body/community. A good portion of the grant goes to purchasing prizes for our monthly raffles. Students who pledge to be safe drivers each month can win prizes like gaming headsets, Bluetooth speakers, phone chargers, car care kits, basket and soccer balls, hoodie sweatshirts, and drones.
