Gabe Stark
The Trenton Telegraph

In an effort to promote seatbelt safety, the THS Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) organized a surprise traffic safety event this week. The initiative, approved by John Cowling, high school principal, under the condition that police officers and student volunteers monitored each entrance, aimed to catch students and staff off guard in order to assess real seatbelt usage.

Over the course of two mornings, FCCLA members assembled candy bags containing Smarties for those wearing seat belts and Dum-Dums for those who weren’t. Each bag included a color-coded insert encouraging seat belt use, as well as a sticker provided by MODoT’s ”Buckle up phone down” campaign.

During the event, vehicles entering the school parking lot were stopped and checked for seatbelt use. Drivers and passengers found buckled up received a sweet reward, while those who weren’t were reminded of the importance of safety.

Freshman Kenlie McCall, daughter of school nurse Tasha McCall, is featuring this project as part of her National Programs in Action STAR event. She will present her findings at the Region 2 STAR competition in Chillicothe in January 2026.