Danbury High School united the city in a safe driving promotion that won the city's high school $100,000 Thursday from State Farm Insurance.
"It was a kid-directed project. They decided how to deploy the community and they brought the community together," said Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton. "They did an amazing job of rallying the community."
The contest worked this way. The students had eight days to gather as many people as possible to pledge to drive safely. In the process, State Farm collected email addresses from the pledgers. About 3,500 schools participated nationwide in the contest, and Danbury scored fifth nationwide.
"We knew we were going to win this," said Nick Goetz, a senior, and president of the school's student government. Goetz is a member of the school's marketing club, DECA, a member of the Board of Governors and a member of Peer Leadership.
The high school students, faculty and administrators will decide how to spend the money, Mayor Boughton said. Goetz told a gathering of juniors and seniors suggestion boxes will be used to collect student opinions.
Nick Mortara, a senior, who also helped organize the effort, said he was disappointed Danbury High School didn't win the top prize, which was the $100,000 plus a Kelly Clarkson concert at the school.
"It would have brought us all together. It would have been a great reward," Mortara said.
Danbury High School Principal Gary Bocaccio said he knew the city of Danbury supported the high school, but this project really drove home that point for him.
"This wasn't just a win for the high school. This was an entire community effort," Bocaccio said.
"It was a kid-directed project. They decided how to deploy the community and they brought the community together," said Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton. "They did an amazing job of rallying the community."
The contest worked this way. The students had eight days to gather as many people as possible to pledge to drive safely. In the process, State Farm collected email addresses from the pledgers. About 3,500 schools participated nationwide in the contest, and Danbury scored fifth nationwide.
"We knew we were going to win this," said Nick Goetz, a senior, and president of the school's student government. Goetz is a member of the school's marketing club, DECA, a member of the Board of Governors and a member of Peer Leadership.
The high school students, faculty and administrators will decide how to spend the money, Mayor Boughton said. Goetz told a gathering of juniors and seniors suggestion boxes will be used to collect student opinions.
Nick Mortara, a senior, who also helped organize the effort, said he was disappointed Danbury High School didn't win the top prize, which was the $100,000 plus a Kelly Clarkson concert at the school.
"It would have brought us all together. It would have been a great reward," Mortara said.
Danbury High School Principal Gary Bocaccio said he knew the city of Danbury supported the high school, but this project really drove home that point for him.
"This wasn't just a win for the high school. This was an entire community effort," Bocaccio said.
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