YOVASO BUDS Campaign Awards!

This year, The Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility sponsored the Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety (YOVASO) three-week “Buckle Up: Drive Sober” (BUDS) campaign to increase awareness about Virginia’s zero tolerance law, which prohibits the use of alcohol by minors, as well as the importance of seat belt use.

Forty one schools from all over the Commonwealth participated in this year’s Misson: Possible themed contest. BUDS challenged students to develop a creative project for their school that educated students about seat belt safety and the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. Winners were selected based on the creativity of their project and its effectiveness in reaching the students at their school. Students also participated in weekly missions and word scrambles via Facebook to earn campaign points for their school.

The 2013 grand prize statewide winner is Stafford High School in Stafford County, VA. Stafford High School defeated four other regional winners for the grand prize during an unannounced seat belt check by the Virginia State Police and YOVASO staff. Stafford recorded a 92.2% percent seat belt use rate during the check! As the statewide winner, Stafford High School students won a day with the UNITE International DUI/DWI Simulator, $500, a banner and plaque.

The 2013 campaign was proudly able to impact almost 60,000 students across the Commonwealth. During the course of the campaign, over 200 educational activities took place, over 2,200 surveys were completed, and over 35,000 educational materials were distributed.

Five Judges’ Choice Winners were also selected based on creativity and implementation of the buckle up, drive sober message. All winners of the “Buckle Up, Drive Sober” campaign are listed below:

Regional Winners:

Northern Virginia – Stafford High School, Stafford Co.
Shenandoah Valley – Fort Defiance High School, Augusta Co.
Greater Richmond – Middlesex High School, Middlesex Co.
Central/Piedmont – Franklin County High School, Franklin Co.
SW Virginia – Blacksburg High School, Montgomery Co.

Judges’ Choice Winners:

Northern Virginia – Mountain View High School, Stafford Co.
Shenandoah Valley – Stuarts Draft High School, Augusta Co.
Greater Richmond – Glen Allen High School, Henrico Co.
Central/Piedmont – Heritage High School, City of Lynchburg
SW Virginia – Lord Botetourt High School, Botetourt Co.