Community News: Auburn H.S. school resource officer named YOVASO officer of the year

News release
Published: May 22, 2008

Read the news release below:

Deputy Jennifer Underwood, School Resource Officer for Auburn High School, was honored with a safety award at the 2008 Youth of Virginia Speak Out About Traffic Safety (YOVASO) Awards Program on May 15 in Roanoke.  The YOVASO Awards Banquet, held at the Virginia Museum of Transportation, recognized organizations, individuals, schools, and students from Virginia who had demonstrated exemplary efforts during the 2007/2008 school year to encourage safe driving among teenagers. 

Deputy Underwood took home the 2008 School Resource Officer of the Year Award for her work with Auburn’s YOVASO About Traffic Safety Club.  “With her guidance, the club excelled in 2007/2008, sponsoring such activities as safety fairs, programs for elementary school students, a parent awareness program, and guest speakers,” said Mary King, YOVASO Program Administrator. “The club tied for first place in the annual Buckle Up, Drive Sober Campaign and was one of the finalists in the annual Save Your Tailgate Buckle Up Campaign.” King noted that Deputy Underwood also assisted one of her fellow SROS with organizing a YOVASO club at a neighboring school this year. “She is very dedicated to the safety of our youth and is an example of how school resource officers can have an impact on the students, King said.”

In addition to Deputy Underwood’s award, Auburn High School was also recognized with a Most Innovative Idea Award for its creativity in promoting traffic safety to the teenage audience.  The YOVASO Club used sidewalk chalk to write anti drinking and driving messages in the school parking lot and on the sidewalk surrounding the school during the Buckle Up, Drive Sober Campaign in December. “This was a very inexpensive, yet fun way to remind students to drive safe and sober during the holidays,” King said.

YOVASO presented 24 awards to schools, students, businesses and individuals during the annual awards banquet. Schools from as far away as Portsmouth City, Fauquier County and Wythe County were recognized for their safe driving programs.

YOVASO is a statewide safe driving program aimed at preventing teenage crashes and fatalities.  The organization, which has approximately 50 active school clubs across Virginia, is sponsored by the Virginia State Police Association.