Distracted driving nets Early College student a scholarship

In recognition of April as Distracted Driving Month, Alliance Insurance Services and Magnolia Eye Care held a competition in which students submitted videos about the dangers of distracted driving.

This year marked the fourth scholarship competition sponsored by Alliance Insurance Services that turned a negative, distracted driving, into a positive and profitable experience for local students.

Dr. Candice Fix of Magnolia Eye Care in King joined in on the action with Alliance Insurance Services this year to promote safer driving habits for everyone. Together their partnership increased the scholarship prizes being offered to the top three video submissions.

The winner got a $3,500 scholarship, $1,800 for the runner up, and $700 for the third place creator — all values doubled from the previous year.

Last week, Sarah Stephens, a student at the Surry Early College High School, was announced as the second place winner and awarded an $1,800 scholarship.

Stephens plans to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in the fall where she plans to major in Broadcast Journalism.

Christopher Cook, owner of Alliance Insurance Services, said of the competition, “We’re doing this because teen drivers are nearly three times more likely than adults to die in an automobile crash. These deaths could be prevented if we can just convince teenagers not to text, eat, or talk on the phone while driving.”

“We support this scholarship program because just like Christopher, we too have experienced a personal loss due to a distracted driver,” said Dr. Fix.

Alliance Insurance Services and Magnolia Eye Care opened the contest to students around the region and Stephens was joined in her winning ways by first place winner Olivia Ess from Roxboro and third place winner Kathryn Angrave from Greensboro.