Race Car Driver Andy Pilgrim Helps University School of NSU Students See the Dangers of Texting While Driving

University School of NSU student Katie Cannon, who helped organize the “No Texting While Driving” assembly and related activities.

School’s ongoing efforts to end texting while driving attract powerful support from the world of professional sports

FT. LAUDERDALE-DAVIE, Fla. – Professional race car driver Andy Pilgrim is no stranger to speed, and now he’s on a mission to win the race against distracted driving.

His partners for this leg of the competition include students from University School of NSU, who contacted Pilgrim to host the school’s upcoming “No Texting While Driving” assembly for Upper School students in the Epstein Center for the Arts on Thursday, Feb. 16, beginning at 1:30 p.m.

“We wanted to send students a proactive message that no text is worth the risk of unsafe driving,” said Katie Cannon, a University School student and organizer of the event.

Through the Andy Pilgrim Foundation, the race car driving enthusiast has also created a series of DVDs with public service announcements to help new drivers learn the importance of safe driving and understand the dangers of distracted driving.

“It’s no secret that driving collisions and crashes are the number one killer of teenagers; there are more than 6,000 traffic deaths and 500,000 serious injuries of 13-19 year olds that occur every year on U.S. roads,” Pilgrim said. “The goal of the Andy Pilgrim Foundation is to help change these horrifying statistics for the better.”

During the AutoNation-sponsored University School assembly, Pilgrim will share race memorabilia and his educational DVDs The Driving Zone 2. Along with the presentation, University School students will be able to sign a pledge to “make every car a no texting car.”

“Our goal in having Andy Pilgrim visit University School is to take a proactive stance when it comes to educating young drivers about safe road practices,” said University School Headmaster Jerome S. Chermak. “Our school has a long history of student-activists who have taken a stance against texting while driving, and this project continues the legacy.”

University School alumnus Rocky Kaller created the STATIC (Stop Texting And Talking In Cars) initiative while he was still a student in 2009 to make students aware of the dangers involved with texting and telephoning while driving a car. Since then, numerous University School students have taken up the cause and made it their mission to create safer streets for all South Floridians.

For more information, please visit www.uschool.nova.edu or call 954-262-4452.

About University School: University School is a pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade, independent college preparatory school located on the campus of Nova Southeastern University that provides a challenging and personalized education within a supportive environment for students of average to gifted abilities. Our students are prepared for productive lives and leadership roles through a program that focuses on academic excellence, extracurricular participation and service to others. For more information visit www.uschool.nova.edu.

About Nova Southeastern University: Located in Davie, Florida, Nova Southeastern University (NSU) is a dynamic fully accredited Florida University dedicated to providing high-quality educational programs of distinction from preschool through the professional and doctoral levels. NSU has more than 28,000 students and is the eighth largest not-for-profit independent institution nationally. The University awards associate’s, bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees, specialist, and first-professional degrees in a wide range of fields, including business, counseling, computer and information sciences, education, medicine, optometry, pharmacy, dentistry, various health professions, law, marine sciences, early childhood, psychology and other social sciences.  Classified as a research university with “high research activity” by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, NSU was also awarded Carnegie’s Community Engagement Classification in 2010 for the University’s significant commitment to and demonstration of community engagement. For more information about NSU visit www.nova.edu.

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Media Contact:
Andra Liwag, NSU Office of Public Affairs
954-262-5309 office, 954-873-8494 cell, andrali@nova.edu