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So. Cal. Students Win Big in Nat'l AAA Traffic Safety Contests

7 June 2000

Southern California Students Capture Prizes in National AAA Traffic Safety Contests

    LOS ANGELES - Twenty-nine Southern California students have received special recognition in AAA's 56th annual National School Traffic Safety Poster Program and in AAA's 4th annual National Senior High Safety Communication Contest.

    The awards include one Grand Award, nine U.S. savings bonds and 19 Awards of Merit. The Grand Award winner is Winnie Tzeng, a senior from Whittier Christian High in La Habra. Tzeng, who will receive a $5,000 scholarship, is one of only three students in the nation to win the contest's top prize.

    The Automobile Club of Southern California is the local coordinator of the national contests, which encourage students to learn about positive traffic safety behaviors by expressing their ideas through artwork and other media. Each year students design posters using one of 20 slogans, with topics ranging from pedestrian and bicycle safety to encouraging safety belt use and pointing out the dangers of drinking and driving.

    More than 2,000 entries from Southern California elementary and middle school students were submitted for the AAA National School Traffic Safety Poster Program. There were 219 entries from high school students for the Senior High Safety Communication Contest.

    "Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death for children and young people up to age 25," said Arline Dillman, Ph.D., the Auto Club's traffic safety expert. "The poster program and communication contest teach students valuable safety lessons that may save their lives."

    The Traffic Safety Poster Program and the Senior High Contest award more than $33,000 in savings bonds and scholarships each year. Entries are judged on originality, presentation, visual impact and relationship to traffic safety.

    The Auto Club reproduces several of the student posters and distributes them free of charge to elementary, middle and high schools throughout Southern California to remind students about traffic safety issues.

    The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest affiliate of the AAA, has been serving members since 1900. Today, the Auto Club's members benefit by the organization's roadside assistance, insurance services, travel agency, financial products, automotive pricing, buying and financing programs, automotive testing and analysis, trip planning services, highway and transportation safety programs and legislative advocacy.

	   Southern California Winners

	   AAA National School Traffic Safety Poster Program (for elementary
and middle school students)

--  One First Place ($150)
    Jessica Liu, Grade 7, First Avenue Middle School in Arcadia

--  One Second Place ($125)
    Rene Gomez, Grade 8, South Whittier Intermediate in Whittier

--  Three Third Place ($100)
    Jannet Zacatenco, Grade 8, South Whittier Intermediate in Whittier
    Lizeth Torres, Grade 8, South Whittier Intermediate in Whittier
    Audrey Ann Guedelehian, Grade 5, Rose & Alex Pilibos Armenian 
    School in Los Angeles

--  Four Judges Awards ($50)
    Rachel Li, Grade 7, First Avenue Middle School in Arcadia
    Olivia A. Marin, Grade 8, South Whittier Intermediate in Whittier
    Valerie Birr, Grade 8, South Whittier Intermediate in Whittier
    Neha Sharma, Grade 6, Valley Alternative School in Van Nuys

--  Thirteen Merit Awards
    Vickie Yi-Ying Lai, Grade 7, First Avenue Middle School in Arcadia
    Nhakhanh Bui, Grade 6, MacArthur Fundamental School in Santa Ana
    Gabriela Garcia, Grade 6, MacArthur Fundamental School in Santa Ana
    Carly Huskins, Grade 5, Saints Simon & Jude School in Huntington 
    Beach
    Lara Balit, Grade 8, Rose & Alex Pilibos Armenian School in Los
    Angeles 
    Janine Valerio, Grade 8, Santa Teresita School in Los Angeles
    Cassandra Mora, Grade 8, Norco Intermediate School in Norco 
    Jeremiah Schaeffer, Grade 8, St. Paschal Baylon School in Thousand 
    Oaks 
    Valessa Nantona, Grade 5, Towne Avenue Elementary School in Carson 
    Edlyn Martinez, Grade 8, South Whittier Intermediate in Whittier 
    Juliana Acevedo, Grade 8, South Whittier Intermediate in Whittier 
    Sandy Crawford, Grade 8, South Whittier Intermediate in Whittier 
    Amy Magyari, Grade 8, St. Catherine of Siena in Reseda

	   AAA National Senior High Safety Communication Contest (for high
school students)

--  One Grand Award ($5,000)
    Winnie Tzeng, Grade 12, Whittier Christian High School in La Habra

--  Six Merit Awards
    John Ambert, Grade 11, University High School in San Diego 
    Peter Kavelin, Grade 12, University High School in Los Angeles 
    Miguel Hernandez, Grade 11, University High School in Los Angeles 
    Lann Benham, Grade 11, Yucaipa High School in Yucaipa 
    Bree Krach, Grade 12, Yucaipa High School in Yucaipa 
    Jenny Bobrink, Grade 11, Yucaipa High School in Yucaipa