In October 2009, the Granite City High School Student Council was awarded a $500 grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), CHOICE, and Southwestern Illinois College. 17 area schools were awarded the grant. A contest was held between the 17 schools to see which school could create the most effective campaign.
During the month of December, Student Council conducted numerous events to raise awareness with the GCHS and Granite City community. These events included participating in Granite City’s Annual Santa Parade, displaying posters in the hallways at GCHS, drivers’ training classes viewed the Smashed video, daily announcements, lunch time trivia, passed out suckers to GCHS students with safe driving message attached as students left school and many others.
On January 29, 2010, 6 Student Council representatives (Nathan Carnahan, President, Jennifer Kim, Sr. Vice President, Trevy Augustin, Johnny Prazma, Shayna Ringering, and Baylin Petrillo) and Linda Ames, Student Council advisor, attended the presentation banquet at The Lady of the Snow Shrine in Belleville. Here the students presented their program to the coordinators of the program and the other schools.
On February 10, the GCHS Student Council attended the Awards Presentation to find out which school’s campaign was most effective!! At the presentation, the GCHS Student Council was awarded the highest total points for their campaign, was awarded 1st place and received $1000 to continue the campaign. Student Council plans to use the money to create programs that will target students during the upcoming prom and graduation season.
Four other schools also received a 1st place ranking and also received the $1000 continuance grant. They included Belleville East, Belleville West, Civic Memorial-Bethalto, and Chester.
Student Council was excited to hear that their efforts were awarded with a 1st place finish!! They are currently working on a 2nd safe driving campaign sponsored by IDOT, Operation Teen Safe Driving. This campaign concludes at the end of February.