Shimeck Elementary Student Wins Iowa AAA School Safety Patroller of the Year Award

Pictured: Lauren Pisarik – AAA School Safety Patroller of the Year

AAA is proud to recognize and award Lauren Pisarik from Shimek Elementary School in Iowa City, Iowa with the AAA School Safety Patroller of the Year Award. Only one deserving patrol member, per state, in The Auto Club Group’s territory wins the annual award.

The AAA School Safety Patroller of the Year Award recognizes the patroller who best exemplifies leadership qualities, good citizenship, school involvement, and application of safety skills vital to effectively and responsibly wear the AAA School Safety Patrol™ badge. During the nomination process, students were carefully chosen by their teacher, principal, or school safety patrol coordinator and then judged based on their performance with leadership qualities, safety skills, school involvement, and citizenship. This year, we had many great nominations so the winner selection came down to their essay entry that described, “How participating in the AAA School Safety Patrol™ program helped them become a better leader."

 “Lauren has been an AAA School Safety Patroller for the past year and consistently exemplifies quality leadership skills. She has developed into an impressive leader who has earned the respect of students and staff. Lauren is extremely dedicated to the program, volunteers her time and is an excellent student,” said Meredith Mitts, spokeswoman, AAA- The Auto Club Group (Minnesota-Iowa). “Throughout her essay, Lauren spoke of the importance of responsibility and service for her role in School Safety Patrol from helping keep other patrollers in line as Captain and patrol positions manned when students are out to ensuring children safely enter and exit their vehicles in the car lines.”

Additionally, Lauren received the Gold Badge award from her school in recognition of her services on Patrol. Her advisor, Ms. Mueller, wrote about Lauren’s dedication to school and the patrol, her wonderful work ethic, and her volunteerism outside of school safety patrol as well.

The AAA School Safety Patrol program is the largest safety program in the world.

Since its inception in 1920, the AAA School Safety Patrol program, has provided a safer environment and wide spectrum of educational opportunities for millions of school children. Each year, more than 654,000 children participate at over 34,500 schools throughout the country.

For over 100 years, AAA has sponsored the AAA School Safety Patrol program, which instills students with a sense of responsibility, leadership and citizenship. AAA provides an array of equipment and material, including electric-lime fluorescent belts, nickel plated steel badges and training for the AAA School Safety Patrollers. When properly uniformed and trained, they can assist their grade school classmates by ensuring their safety to and from school every day.

The program has been praised by safety and education groups around the globe for reducing injuries and deaths among 5-to-14 year olds, the age group most at risk for pedestrian injury. In addition to keeping students safe, the program teaches lifelong lessons of responsibility, leadership and good citizenship. AAA’s goal is to continue fostering this vital program, which develops tomorrow’s leaders today.

Visit the AAA Minnesota-Iowa Newsroom

Twitter @AAAMinnIowa