Pageant Contestant Spreads Safe Driving Message

Jessica King understands that teenagers face grave danger when they take risks behind the wheel.

So now that Jessica is competing for the title of Miss Outstanding Teen West Virginia, she is leading her school’s Lookin’ Out committee to educate her classmates about those risks and encourage them to be safer drivers.

Lookin' Out is a safe teen driving awareness program sponsored by Erie Insurance Group. The program is designed to let teens help teens reduce auto crashes and promote safe driving habits.

“As teenagers, we feel like we’re invincible, but the reality is life can change in a split second,” said Jessica. “The responsibility that comes with getting a driver’s license is something that many kids don’t take seriously.”

Jessica, a junior at Ravenswood High School in Ravenswood, West Virginia, recently won a local competition to earn the crown of Miss Outstanding Teen Mountain Laurel and will represent her region at the statewide pageant in June.

A sister company to the Miss America Organization, Miss America's Outstanding Teen pageants promote scholastic achievement, creative accomplishment, healthy living and community involvement for America's teens.

Lookin’ Out as a platform

After winning her preliminary local pageant, Jessica was required to select a platform for which she will work to make a positive impact in her community as she prepares for the statewide contest — and Jessica chose safe teen driving.

Upon speaking with her school’s faculty advisor, Tom Speece, Jessica discovered the opportunity to establish a Lookin’ Out committee and she led the effort to apply for and receive a Lookin’ Out grant.

Ravenswood’s first activities included a White Out Day and a dance promoting responsible driving. Jessica wrote the script for White Out Day and coordinated the details of the dance. Both activities were successful in getting students thinking about the dangers of taking risks behind the wheel.

“Both of the initial activities went well and we’re looking forward to doing more this spring,” said Jessica.

Erie Insurance agent Teresa Thacker from the Ravenswood Insurance Centre serves as the agent advisor to the Ravenswood Lookin’ Out program. Teresa applauds Jessica’s efforts for taking an active role in getting her school’s Lookin’ Out program started.

“Jessica quickly realized how a program like Lookin’ Out can have a positive impact on her peers. I am impressed with her desire to truly want to make a difference in her community,” Thacker said.

Lookin’ ahead

In addition to organizing other activities promoting teen driving safety, Jessica also plans to attend two local elementary schools to talk to youngsters about the importance of buckling up and using booster seats.

The culmination of her hard work will occur in June when Jessica attends the Miss West Virginia Outstanding Teen Pageant in Morgantown where she will compete for the state crown against 15 to 20 other regional winners.

The contestants will be judged on numerous criteria, including the success of their community involvement projects.

To prepare, Jessica is raising money, creating a scrapbook of her accomplishments and writing an essay about how she plans to continue to spread the word about safe driving beyond the June competition.

It might sound overwhelming for a 17 year-old, but Jessica is taking it all in stride.

“It’s exciting and I’m happy I have the opportunity to do it,” Jessica says of the experience.

Regardless of the outcome at the state pageant, Thacker says Jessica can feel accomplished knowing she has been successful in her own community.

“Jessica can be proud that her ambition and leadership is making a difference right here in Ravenswood,” adds Thacker.

Jessica King
Age: 17
Grade: Junior
School: Ravenswood High School (W. Va.)
Activities: Lookin’ Out, Rave Review Show Choir, school newspaper, yearbook
Future Plans: Attend Concord University to pursue a degree in Communications and Public Relations