Ashley Hahn, 17, junior, Lake Stevens High School
Published 9:00 pm Monday, March 21, 2005
Safety star: Was honored by the Snohomish County DUI Task Force for her traffic safety work, including talking to her peers about seat belt safety. They gave her a miniature blue flashlight.
First-hand fear: Made traffic safety the focus of her volunteer work this school year after a scary car crash last summer. “I was just coming home from my boyfriend’s house. On the backcountry road about a mile from home, I fell asleep at the wheel. I drifted off the road and went through a fence … I woke up and was sitting in the car, thinking, ‘OK, now what do I do?’”
Spurred to lead: Uninjured in the crash, she was back at soccer practice the next day. She used the experience to put together a yearlong traffic safety project as part of her work with Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, a nonprofit national career and technical student organization. Topics included sober driving, buckling up, knowing the rules of the road and staying safe.
On the horn: Spoke to traffic safety classes and handed out candy canes with the message “Think smart. Buckle up and arrive alive in 2005” to students as they exited the high school parking lot. Also handed out brochures, was a crossing guard for Highland Elementary and shared the message of FACTS (Families Acting Together for Traffic Safety) with school board members.
Other activities: Is a state officer with FCCLA. Plays soccer, is on the track team and tried out for the first time and made the cheerleading squad. Also was a resource to school leaders looking at graduation requirements, and as a class senator looks for ways to recognize fellow students.
No time to get tired: “I like challenges. I enjoy keeping busy and doing new things.”
Hobbies: Hanging out with friends, going to the movies and shopping, “normal teenage stuff.”
Looking ahead: Doesn’t know what career she will follow but loves math and science. As a junior, is already in calculus and also is taking chemistry. “I really enjoy it. It comes natural.”
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Dan Bates / The Herald
Lake Stevens High School junior Ashley Hahn was honored for her traffic safety work, including talking to her fellow students about seat belt safety.
