Once again California High School students have lived up to the motto "Pinto Strong" by chalking up a big win of $25,000 in the Celebrate My Drive campaign.
The CHS students and their families, along with the staff, board members, and supporters, some from other area schools, went to work on the third annual program, sponsored by State Farm Insurance. The goal was for the school to qualify as one of the top 100 schools with gifts based on the number of pledges submitted during the ten-day campaign, which ran Oct. 15 - 24.
As a result of the campaign, five large schools and five small schools will receive $100,000 in December. Another 45 in each size category will receive $25,000.
CHS qualified for one of the 90 $25,000 prize grants as a result of being one of three Missouri schools which finished in the top 100 nationwide. The school district is in the small schools division for schools with 750 or fewer students. Current enrollment at the high school is 421.
"This is quite an accomplishment for a school our size in a NATIONAL competition," said Librarian Janet Henley. "Due to the support of our local State Farm agency, our district administration, teachers, staff, students, local businesses, and community supporters we were able to get enough pledges on behalf of our school to win major money."
When the Celebrate My Drive campaign was announced, student leaders at the high school created the Pintos Drive Safe program in the hopes of raising awareness about safe driving among their peers and of raising community support through daily online pledging to gain extra funds for school technology.
The youth leaders began developing strategies for this program several months ago, with the help of Henley. They focused on social media, including a YouTube video, as well as Facebook and Twitter messages. The organizers also reached out to community members with presentations and inserts at local industries, churches and organizations. Several businesses committed to providing time and access for employees to make the online pledge each day.
They even recruited voting help from the Tipton area, where FFA members, school employees and correctional officers joined in the daily pledging.
Since California has been a winner this year, the California community can throw its support behind Tipton in the safe driving pledge campaign for the next school year.
Other Mid-Missouri schools have won in previous years, including Southern Boone and Rock Bridge high schools.
The Pintos' winnings will first support a safe-driving campaign at the school. The remainder will provide hardware upgrades to school technology, including i-Pads and laptops.
On the web: www.celebratemydrive.com