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Recent News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

POLARIS SATELLITE PROGRAMS EARN SECOND STRAIGHT TOP NATIONAL AWARD DESIGNED TO CURB DISTRACTED DRIVING

May 17, 2024

Middleburg Heights, OH – For the second straight year, the Polaris Career Center Satellite Broadcasting & Video Production and Marketing & Entrepreneurship programs, located at Berea-Midpark High School, placed first in the Just Drive/Create Real Impact Social Media Campaign Contest. This national program is hosted by Impact Teen Drivers (ITD), a national non-profit organization whose vision is to change the teen driving culture to one that is distraction-free. ITD works with champions of all ages and backgrounds—from students and teachers to doctors and first responders—to disseminate evidence-based tools and programming to empower good decision-making while driving. The contest encourages high schools, classrooms and student groups across the United States to develop creative solutions to address the critical issue of distracted driving.

This year’s award-winning theme, “Little Reminders, Big Impact,” included students from both Berea-Midpark High School and Brook Park Elementary School. As the winning team, Polaris illustrated the collective effort of high school and elementary students, school staff, Berea Police Department officers and other community members. The campaign effectively highlighted the role of community involvement in combating reckless and distracted driving. Throughout the campaign month, students led numerous initiatives, including the production of public service announcements, content for social media, daily school announcements and a community fair designed to increase awareness of preventable car crashes caused by reckless and distracted driving. Their work exemplifies a strong commitment to making a tangible impact on traffic safety. As the top team in the nation, the programs were awarded a $10,000 educational grant, which will be presented later this spring.

Dr. Kelly Browning, Executive Director of Impact Teen Drivers, expressed her admiration: “We are incredibly proud of the dedication Polaris High School students have shown in promoting safety in their school and community. Their efforts serve as an inspiration to us all.”

The following students created the project under the direction of Polaris instructors, Melissa Burchett and Katie Street:

Satellite Students involved:

Aden Ewing, senior, Marketing & Entrepreneurship

Robert Freeman, senior, Broadcasting & Video Production

Noah Sandahl, senior, Marketing & Entrepreneurship

Ava Yantko, senior, Broadcasting & Video Production

Malakai Crespo, junior, Broadcasting & Video Production

Domanick Cvelbar, sophomore, Marketing & Entrepreneurship

Aidan Winkler, sophomore, Marketing & Entrepreneurship

Max Januszewski, freshman, Broadcasting & Video Production and Marketing & Entrepreneurship

Emma Rivera, freshman, Broadcasting & Video Production and Marketing & Entrepreneurship

Josie Swartz, freshman, Marketing & Entrepreneurship

Brook Park Elementary School students:

Izabella Burke

Charlie Eschuk

Elijah Montijo

Noah Sevinsky

Ezrah Westley

For additional information, contact Doug Miller at dmiller@polaris.edu or call (440) 891-7609.

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Keep up on the latest Polaris news! Check out our Polaris news release archive.