Prom Promise

Representatives from Nationwide Insurance Co.'s Prom Promise campaign presented Mount Hebron High School students with a $400 check yesterday, making the school the county's biggest winner this year in the anti-drunken driving contest.Carol Katsampis, an independent agent with Nationwide Insurance who has an office in Ellicott City, said officials surprised the nearly 1,300-member student body by reading the news over the intercom system yesterday.Mount Hebron placed fourth of 20 prize winners in "Division A" of the state competition, open to schools with 950 students or more, said Sam Bradshaw, Prom Promise's regional coordinator.

SEVERNA PARK HIGH School seniors attending their prom tomorrow night at the BWI Marriott should feel as secure as they would stretched out on the family room sofa, watching "Dawson's Creek." At least that's the goal of faculty, parents and students who have been working for months to produce a safe and memorable senior prom for the nearly 400 members of Severna Park's Class of 2000. A major part of that effort is the Prom Promise assembly held each year to encourage seniors to accept responsibility for driving safely on a night that presents so many new ways to make wrong choices.

The senior class of Meade Senior High School were the state winners of the Prom Promise competition sponsored by Nationwide Insurance recently, for their work in getting students to sign pledges not to drink or use drugs while driving to their prom.The contest -- designed and initiated by senior class president Stacy Stallsmith and vice president Margaret Roe with help from class advisers Don Gobbi, John Smith and Frank Roush -- featured posters, signs and other activities and displays designed to raise awareness of the dangers of drinking or doing drugs and driving.

WITH SO many negative headlines about teen-agers in the papers these days, it's refreshing to hear about youngsters who are doing positive things.At River Hill High School, Students Helping Other People, or SHOP, had a terrific year, doubling its membership and completing many projects.One of the reasons for SHOP's success was the team of hard-working officers. SHOP was guided by President Sarah Johnson, who will attend Washington University in St. Louis this fall on an Eliot Scholarship, and Vice President Regina Lee, who plans to attend Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y.Both were named Outstanding Seniors.

Francis Scott Key High School recently announced its participation in the 1994 Prom Promise Program.The program uses positive peer pressure to encourage students not to use alcohol and drugs on prom night. Student committees will organize school events that emphasize the dangers of alcohol and drugs, and encourage other students to sign a pledge promising not to use either on prom night.The schools with the most original events and the highest percentage of students who sign up are eligible for prizes and cash awards.

North Carroll students placed 19th in the regional Prom Promise competition and won $125 for their school.About 200 schools, in Maryland and the surrounding states, participated in Nationwide Insurance Company's annual effort to demonstrate the dangers of drinking and driving.Nearly 50 percent of North Carroll students signed the pledge to avoid alcohol and drugs, especially on prom night."So often, students see and hear adults telling them what not to do," said Rob Wedge, guidance counselor at the Hampstead school.

Liberty High School did not rest on its laurels when the Prom Promise campaign opened this year. The two-time champion worked hard to make it three in a row.At a school assembly yesterday Nationwide Insurance, sponsor of the inter-school contest to help combat drunken driving, announced that Liberty was Grand Champion for Maryland -- again.The Eldersburg school led 187 others in the state competition. More than 95 percent of its 1,065 students had signed the pledge and promised they would not drink on prom night.

Students who have pledged not to use drugs or alcohol on prom night may have saved themselves from potential disaster while earning extra money for their high schools.This year, Liberty High School had the highest percentage of students signing the Prom Promise pledge -- promising not to use alcohol or drugs on prom night -- among all state high schools.For collecting 981 signatures out of about 1,000 students, the Eldersburg school won a $4,500 award from Nationwide Insurance Co., said Helen Derwin, a physical education teacher who has coordinated Liberty's program for five years.

Prom Promise effort may curb drug, alcohol use among youthGlenelg High School and Nationwide Insurance Agent Paul E. McMahon Jr. of Glenelg have initiated the 1993 Prom Promise Program, which encourages teen-agers to sign a pledge not to use alcohol or drugs prom night -- whether or not they attend the event.Prom Promise is endorsed by the National Association of State Board of Education, the National Commission Against Drunk Driving and the American Association of School Administration.Information: 442-1600.

Liberty High wins drug pledge awardLiberty High School has been named Maryland Division A grand champion of the 1995 Nationwide Insurance Prom Promise program.One-hundred-fifty-three schools in Maryland participated in the program. This is the fourth year Liberty has been a Prom Promise grand champion.An awards assembly was held June 7. As grand champion, Liberty received $2,375. The school also received a $500 scrapbook from the Toyota Dealers Association of Baltimore.In addition, the school won free tickets to Adventure World Theme Park in Largo for every student who signed the pledge to remain drug and alcohol free on prom night.

Mount Hebron High School has been awarded $1,100 in the 1995 Nationwide Insurance Prom Promise program. The school placed fourth in the statewide competition for the student sign-ups.It also received 15 free tickets and 50 discount coupons to Adventure World amusement park in Largo.Nationwide Insurance sponsors Prom Promise to get teen-agers involved in providing solutions to the problems of alcohol and drug use.Seventy-one Baltimore schools and 153 schools throughout the state participate in the program.

Liberty High wins drug pledge awardLiberty High School has been named Maryland Division A grand champion of the 1995 Nationwide Insurance Prom Promise program.One-hundred-fifty-three schools in Maryland participated in the program. This is the fourth year Liberty has been a Prom Promise grand champion.An awards assembly was held June 7. As grand champion, Liberty received $2,375. The school also received a $500 scrapbook from the Toyota Dealers Association of Baltimore.In addition, the school won free tickets to Adventure World Theme Park in Largo for every student who signed the pledge to remain drug and alcohol free on prom night.

North Carroll students placed 19th in the regional Prom Promise competition and won $125 for their school.About 200 schools, in Maryland and the surrounding states, participated in Nationwide Insurance Company's annual effort to demonstrate the dangers of drinking and driving.Nearly 50 percent of North Carroll students signed the pledge to avoid alcohol and drugs, especially on prom night."So often, students see and hear adults telling them what not to do," said Rob Wedge, guidance counselor at the Hampstead school.

Liberty High School did not rest on its laurels when the Prom Promise campaign opened this year. The two-time champion worked hard to make it three in a row.At a school assembly yesterday Nationwide Insurance, sponsor of the inter-school contest to help combat drunken driving, announced that Liberty was Grand Champion for Maryland -- again.The Eldersburg school led 187 others in the state competition. More than 95 percent of its 1,065 students had signed the pledge and promised they would not drink on prom night.

Representatives from Nationwide Insurance Co.'s Prom Promise campaign presented Mount Hebron High School students with a $400 check yesterday, making the school the county's biggest winner this year in the anti-drunken driving contest.Carol Katsampis, an independent agent with Nationwide Insurance who has an office in Ellicott City, said officials surprised the nearly 1,300-member student body by reading the news over the intercom system yesterday.Mount Hebron placed fourth of 20 prize winners in "Division A" of the state competition, open to schools with 950 students or more, said Sam Bradshaw, Prom Promise's regional coordinator.

Four Meade Senior High students, along with firefighters, police and rescue personnel from several jurisdictions, played out a drama yesterday they hope will shock students into sobriety on prom night, May 13.They staged a mock car accident in which firefighters cut off the top of one car and used the Jaws of Life to pry open a door of the other to reach the battered, bloody victims inside. A U.S. Park Police rescue helicopter whisked away the most seriously injured as about 300 Meade seniors watched.

Mount Hebron High School has been awarded $1,100 in the 1995 Nationwide Insurance Prom Promise program. The school placed fourth in the statewide competition for the student sign-ups.It also received 15 free tickets and 50 discount coupons to Adventure World amusement park in Largo.Nationwide Insurance sponsors Prom Promise to get teen-agers involved in providing solutions to the problems of alcohol and drug use.Seventy-one Baltimore schools and 153 schools throughout the state participate in the program.

Angela Sugg, a social studies teacher at Mount Hebron High School, had a couple of dummies in her last-period class Thursday afternoon -- and it was difficult for her and her students to keep from laughing.As Ms. Sugg tried to keep a straight face while discussing U.S. criminal laws, Vince and Larry, a.k.a. the Crash Test Dummies, sat silently in the second row, attracting stares and laughter from the 28 students.Two students dressed as the seat-belt-promoting TV commercial characters were sitting in on the class to send their peers a serious message about drinking and driving, as part of a national anti-drunken driving campaign known as "Prom Promise."

Angela Sugg, a social studies teacher at Mount Hebron High School, had a couple of dummies in her last-period class Thursday afternoon -- and it was difficult for her and her students to keep from laughing.As Ms. Sugg tried to keep a straight face while discussing U.S. criminal laws, Vince and Larry, a.k.a. the Crash Test Dummies, sat silently in the second row, attracting stares and laughter from the 28 students.Two students dressed as the seat-belt-promoting TV commercial characters were sitting in on the class to send their peers a serious message about drinking and driving, as part of a national anti-drunken driving campaign known as "Prom Promise."