Dubuque County school wins grand prize in safe driving contest

CASCADE - Dubuque County's Cascade High School on Tuesday won $100,000 and a concert from The Band Perry as part of a nationwide contest to promote safe driving.

The 'Celebrate My Drive” contest, created by State Farm Insurance, awards grant money to 100 schools nationwide, including $100,000 grants to 10 schools. Cascade won the small-school division, earning a private concert from country group The Band Perry in addition to the grant.

The school plans to use the money on building improvements, including lockers and classroom furniture, said principal Greg Vander Lugt.

'We've been blessed by a supportive community that's been able to help us with the physical plant,” Vander Lugt said. Buying furniture for classrooms is harder, he said.

Cascade also is required to use 10 percent of its winnings to promote safe driving among teenagers. Vander Lugt said the school will work with State Farm on an awareness campaign focused on avoiding distracted driving, among other things.

The safe-driving money also can be used to buy cameras for the school's parking lot, said State Farm agent Rick Meyer, who worked with the school throughout the contest.

To win, Cascade put together a staff committee and contacted 'every business in Cascade,” instructional coach Adam Kedley told a school assembly announcing the prizes Tuesday. Cascade supporters had to answer questions about safe driving and vote online.

Students came to school on in-service days to help people vote for Cascade, Western Dubuque Community School District Superintendent Jeff Corkey said at the assembly.

About 3,200 schools registered for the competition, State Farm spokeswoman Ann Avery said, and 6.1 million votes were cast over a 10-day period in October.

Cascade has 345 students in grades 7 through 12, Vander Lugt said. It was competing with schools of up to 750 students.

Meyer said the details of The Band Perry's concert still are being worked out. It will be a private concert designated for driving-age teenagers, he said, and likely will be held at the school early next year.

Xavier, others also awarded grants

Xavier High School in Cedar Rapids was awarded $25,000 after placing in the top 50 in the contest's small-school division, Xavier Director of Marketing Nick Ireland said. Ireland said the money will be used for technology upgrades, as well as on a safe-driving initiative. Some of it will be shared with other Catholic schools, he said.

According to Avery, other area schools that have been awarded grants include South Tama County High School ($100,000), Western Dubuque High School ($25,000), Beckman Catholic High School in Dyersville ($25,000) and OA-BCIG High School in Ida Grove ($25,000).

There were 679 car crashes in Iowa in 2011 as a direct result of a distracted driver, according to the Iowa Department of Public Safety's website.