Tuesday, April 17th, 2007

Transportation Solutions
2700 West 21st Street, Erie, PA

TIME: 9:00 am - Registration
12:00 noon – Awards Ceremony
Back to School by 1:00PM

The Competition

• This competition is open to Juniors and Seniors who are crash and ticket free.  They MUST be crash and ticket free in order to compete at any level and we would hold the 4th and 5th place winners as alternates in case we have a student that can not make the competition for any reason.

• Once the top three representatives have been chosen at the school level, the parents would have to sign a consent form allowing the student to compete and agreeing to make sure they have transportation to the local competition and to the State competition if they win.

Prizes

• 1st place - $1,000
• 2nd place  -  $500
• 3rd place  -  $300

The winner of this competition moves on to compete in the State Competition sponsored by the PA Motor Trucking Association.

STATE COMPETITION:
First place at the state level gets a $5,000 scholarship.  The state competition is held in May, likely in Harrisburg, and would be the student’s responsibility to get to and from that competition.

Committee Members

• BRENDA BENNETT, PRESIDENT, TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS
• DALE KNOX, DRIVING CHAMPION,  PA ROAD TEAM MEMBER, CON-WAY FREIGHT,
• ANDREA BIERER, PROJECT DIRECTOR,  NW REGIONAL HIGHWAY SAFETY NETWORK
• CANDY KNOX, VICE PRESIDENT, FLYING A STABLES

Process

• Students will apply and take a written pre-test.  The top three scorers will be chosen as the representatives from that school.

• These “Top 3” will compete against representatives from 3 other schools on April 17th.  (There will be 12 students total competing  this year.) 

• The April 17th Championship consists of a written test and driving in a challenging but controlled, low speed skills course.

Background

This program already exists in numerous counties throughout PA and we feel it is time Erie is represented.  We will be inviting insurance companies, the DA’s office, the Sheriff’s office and other interested parties to volunteer and judge the day of the competition.

Participants

• Villa Maria
• Harbor Creek High School
• Collegiate Academy
• Cathedral Prep

Role of the School

• We would like to hang posters at your school to set a date for the 1st testing amongst the students.  We could work directly with the guidance counselors or whomever you designate.  We would ask that the information be announced on the morning announcements. 

• Allow students an excused absence until 1pm on April 17th to participate in the competition.

• The media will be invited on April 17th for the day of competition and any representatives from your school administration that you desire to send would be more than welcomed.  (It is not necessary to send a representative.)

This is the first Annual Teen Driving Championship for Erie County, so some details may change as necessary.   

If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to contact me,
Brenda Bennett at 814-833-2301.