Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 11, 1991 TAG: 9104110289
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: JUSTINE ELIAS CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
Seeing them the next day - alive and well - will be even better.
This week, students will vow to make good on a "Prom Promise" not to drink alcohol or use drugs on prom night, April 20.
The program, sponsored by Nationwide Insurance, asks high schoolers across the country to stay sober and drive safely on prom night.
Lauren Shroyer, president of the class of '92, predicts that most upperclassmen will sign the pledge.
"We hope that a lot of people will take it seriously," Shroyer said. "Each one of us wants to be there for our friends."
Students will put up posters at the school and around Pulaski County to make everyone aware of the promise.
Nationwide will award cash and prizes to the high schools that create the best publicity campaigns. The school winning the grand prize will host a concert by a well-known rock or rap artist.
But "don't sign the pledge to win prizes," urged Dirk Davis of Nationwide. "Sign it to save your life."
At an afternoon assembly Wednesday, about 500 juniors and seniors heard sobering reports from educators and law enforcement officials about the dangers of drinking and driving.
Car accidents are the leading cause of death for Americans aged 15-19. In Virginia last year, 60 teen-agers were killed in accidents involving alcohol.
But the statistics didn't hit students as hard as the testimony of Davis, who graduated from high school in 1981.
On his prom night, Davis was riding in a car driven by a friend who had been drinking. Davis' friend lost control of the car and struck "15 trees before the car stopped."
Davis' friend is now paralyzed from the neck down. Davis was not seriously injured, but he is still wracked with guilt because he did nothing to stop his friend from taking the wheel that night.
"If we save one person, it will be worth it," said April Busic, vice president of the class of '91.
by CNB