Governor honors South Whidbey student

LANGLEY — A South Whidbey High School student was honored recently by Gov. Christine Gregoire for her efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving. Brianna Pinckert, a junior, is the recipient of the Governor’s 2007 Volunteer Service Award.

May 2, 2007 6:00 am
Brianna Pinckert stands in front of the Governor's mansion in Olympia after receiving her "Volunteer Service Award" for her work on a teen driving program.
Brianna Pinckert stands in front of the Governor's mansion in Olympia after receiving her "Volunteer Service Award" for her work on a teen driving program.

LANGLEY — A South Whidbey High School student was honored recently by Gov. Christine Gregoire for her efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of drinking and driving.

Brianna Pinckert, a junior, is the recipient of the Governor’s 2007 Volunteer Service Award.

She traveled to the governor’s mansion two weeks ago to receive the award along with several other people from around the state.

Pinckert was honored for her volunteer work on the “Drive to Stay Alive” teen driving safety campaign.

The project was directed by the school district’s Learning and Community Engagement Program, or LACEP.

Susie Richards, director of LACEP, said Pinckert was instrumental in the success of the project.

“Brianna was critical in the development of the public service announcements, a video and interviews that were created to reach out to teens and parents about safe driving,” Richards said.

“Brianna rose to the top to be a leader in the campaign,” she said.

Pinckert said she believed the project was a way to reach her classmates.

“It’s such an important issue someone had to do something about it. So we did,” Pinckert said.

“I think our classmates listen to us because we are students, too. It’s good to hear from people their own age,” she said.

Pinckert made presentations to the community organizations and classrooms as well as creating public service announcements for National Public Radio and KOMO Television’s “Northwest Afternoon” show.

“Brianna went beyond classroom time to volunteer her time and she has developed a care and concern around this issue,” Richards said.

She and several of her classmates created the safe driver campaign to bring awareness to teens about how to stay safe on the road.

Using a multi-media campaign — including television and radio public service announcements, posters, brochures, the Web and newspaper advertising — the project educates young people about the dangers of fast driving. The students’ finished CD also includes interviews with people who have been impacted by teen driving accidents.

The project was funded with a $2,000 grant from State Farm Insurance.

Gayle Saran can be reached at

221-5300 or gsaran@southwhidbey

record.com.