“The SADD Club has been very active in its first year at Tecumseh High School,” said Superintendent Paula Crew. “Club members are providing a multitude of opportunities for their fellow classmates that are designed to help make good decisions. We are very fortunate to have our SRO’s serving in the capacity as advisors.”
Last school year, students approached the SROs about their interested in beginning a SADD club at the high school, so they looked into it and agreed to serve as the club advisors.
The club meets biweekly on Thursdays during Pride period, which is a shortened period that every student has on their schedule where they can get help with class materials. It has grown to include 50 members and the club’s officers are: president Sammy Russell, vice president Alivia Snider, secretary Brycen Dixon and treasurer Chase Tipton.
The club has already organized several projects and events including:
Guest Speaker on Distracted Driving: Personnel from the Ohio State Highway Patrol were invited to speak to high school students about the dangers of distracted driving.
Quick Click Challenge: This activity encouraged students to compete in teams to see who could buckle their seatbelts the fastest as a reminder of the importance of seatbelt use.
Buckle Up with Brutus: SADD officers visited all second and third-grade classrooms to present the “Buckle Up with Brutus” program, educating younger students on seatbelt safety, the importance of booster seats and overall car safety.
Driving Under the Influence Simulation: Before homecoming, SADD collaborated with the Clark County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) to host a driving simulation event. Using adult pedal cars and impaired-driving goggles, students navigated a course designed to demonstrate the dangers of driving under the influence.
In April before prom, SADD will host a mock crash in the high school parking lot. This is a sobering simulation that demonstrates the aftermath of a crash caused by driving under the influence to remind students of the consequences of impaired driving.
So far, Crew said those involved in the events and activities have volunteered their services and other items, such as the adult pedal cars that were used for the distraction simulation were lent by the CCSO, and the club recently received a little over $7,000 for participating in the Buckle Up with Brutus Challenge.
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