Newport Harbor senior’s fight wins an award

Deirdre Newman

UCI CAMPUS -- A Newport Harbor High School senior who saw a gaping

void in the campus’s drunk driving prevention and filled it by founding a

chapter of Students Against Drunk Driving scored a $1,000 scholarship on

Thursday.

Carly Geehr was one of five semifinalists who competed in the final

round of the Hitachi Safety Scholarship Competition

at UC Irvine.

Part of her presentation showed how students’ attitudes about drinking

and driving had changed as a result of her efforts.

“Any recognition students can get is a step toward fulfilling our

mission,” Carly said. “And any extra money is good for college.”

When Carly came to Newport Harbor High School as a new student her

sophomore year, a student was killed in a drunk driving accident. Carly

waited for someone at the school to take some action to help prevent a

similar tragedy from occurring.

No one did.

So the following year, Carly -- feeling more confident in her

surroundings -- took the initiative and founded a chapter of Students

Against Drunk Driving.

“Carly herself has really taken a leadership role at the school,” said

Kelly Bourgeois, the school’s activities director. “She’s just real

passionate.”

Carly also is a top swimmer for the Sailors, having been named a

Scholastic All-American and was on the U.S. Junior Pan American team.

During her presentation, Carly pointed out some of the steps the SADD

chapter uses to accomplish its mission. Foremost is spreading the word

throughout the Newport Harbor High School community about the perils of

drunk driving, such as holding a Grim Reaper Day.

And this year the chapter is starting a new concept -- offering a $500

scholarship to the student who writes the best essay on how one person’s

decision can affect others.

Carly was able to prove the success of drunk-driving prevention on

campus through a survey where 71% of students said SADD had increased

their awareness of the consequences of the act.

One of the judges, Kevin Cowell of the Tustin Police Department, said

he was impressed with Carly’s tenacity.

“She has done a great job of making people aware,” Cowell said. “I’d

like to see her successful in whatever she is doing.”

And Carly’s mom, J.T., said she is extremely proud of her daughter’s

passion for helping others avoid the fatal repercussions of drinking and

driving.

“She showed a lot of guts and strength of character and resolve. It’s

nice to see her get some recognition and reward for that,” J.T. said.

The winner of the competition, Margaux Thomas of Laguna Beach won a

$5,000 scholarship.

* Deirdre Newman covers education. She may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at o7 deirdre.newman@latimes.comf7 .