6/5/2020
UPDATE: Nampa's Ridgevue High wins Idaho and national "Battle of the Belts" challenge
Note: The video has been further edited, with the updated version linked below.
NAMPA - Each year, Idaho high school resource officers (SROs) initiate a safety campaign known as “Battle of the Belts." This year Nampa’s Ridgevue High swept the Best Overall Campaign, on both the state and national level. Ridgevue SRO Stu Hobson couldn't have been prouder. Hobson is at center in this picture from the event June 3.
“When we were done with the campaign we had a 96% seat belt use rate on
campus,” said Hobson. “Usually, most of the numbers are
90-92%, so to hit 96% was a very big surprise.”
“Along with Idaho Battle of the Belts, participating schools also enter the National Organization for Youth Safety’s “Seat Belt Saves” challenge,” said ITD Highway Safety Grants Officer Tabitha Smith. “Ridgevue won best in the nation this year as well as our own state competition.”
The Ridgevue Warhawks didn’t stop with the two school scholarships they earned by winning the competitions. The top two individual scholarship winners, Madison Garner and Brady Adams, also both attend Ridgevue. Garner received scholarship money in the amount of $2,500, while Adams received $2,000.
Ridgevue’s campaign included school announcements, pledges to buckle up, and a booth at the school carnival. What really set the campaign apart, however, was the more than 800 orange ribbons the team made with the words “buckle up” written boldly in black letters. Students tied these ribbons to backpacks as a reminder to click their seat belts every time they enter a vehicle.
“We still will see the orange ribbons tied on people’s backpacks,” said Adams. “It’s really cool and shows we made a big impact for sure!”
The sobering statistic that fatal crashes are the leading cause of death in teens ages 15-20 is the driving force for safety campaigns like “Battle of the Belts.”
“Literally, that two seconds it takes to put on your seatbelt can save your life,” said Garner. “It’s something I think of every time I get in the car now because of this campaign.”
Prizes for the school and individual winners were provided by State Farm Insurance. Ridgevue’s scholarships were presented June 3 by Seattle Seahawk Mike Iupati at the Warhawk air museum.
Iupati had this advice for teen drivers: “Just always make sure you’re safe, because it’s your life!”
Check here for video footage from the event, including B roll and interviews:
- 1st place scholarship recipient Madison Garner (2:13)
- 2nd place scholarships recipient Brady Adams (5:45)
- State Farm Insurance agent Mike Hanson (9:14)
- Seattle Seahawk Offensive Lineman Mike Iupati (11:25)
- SRO Stu Hobson (13:31)
- ITD Highway Safety Grants Officer Tabitha Smith (18:25)