WASHINGTON, D. C. (Thursday, May 31, 2018) ––Two elementary school students from the Washington metro area were hailed today for their selfless and courageous actions in the line of duty as members of the AAA School Safety Patrol. The “hometown heroes” were recipients of the prestigious AAA School Safety Patrol Lifesaving Medal, a nationally recognized honor. They were lauded for their heroic actions as a AAA School Safety Patrol member who saved the life of someone in imminent danger.

Remarkably, only three AAA Lifesaving Medals were awarded to students nationwide during the 2017/2018 academic year. In an extraordinary occurrence, two of the three nationally recognized hometown heroes are elementary school students here in the Washington metro area, from Rockville, Maryland and Fairfax, Virginia. Worthy of the highest tributes, they are being honored for their quick thinking and actions that was instrumental in preventing serious injury or death to those they protected.

The next generation of heroes is here. Altogether, 11 local elementary school students, the region’s youngest heroes, received this year’s Outstanding AAA School Safety Patrol Award during a special awards ceremony and luncheon at Waterford at Fair Oaks in Fairfax, Virginia. The event was hosted this afternoon by the Mid-Atlantic Foundation for Safety and Education and AAA Mid-Atlantic.

“It is an honor to be able to recognize all of these young people who have gone above and beyond the call of duty as Safety Patrollers,” said Leah Scully, Traffic Safety Community Educator for the Mid-Atlantic Foundation for Safety and Education. “These 11 students are true role models for safe behaviors and play an important role in keeping their peers safe at all times. Without doubt, these students, young champions all, are and will continue to be outstanding and valuable leaders in their communities.”

AAA initiated the Outstanding AAA School Safety Patrol Award and the award ceremonies to recognize Patrollers across the nation and region for their gallant actions. As the 2017/2018 school year is wrapping up, these 11 extraordinary area students each received a $100 gift card and plaque from the Mid-Atlantic Foundation for Safety and Education. The AAA School Safety Patrol Lifesaving Medal is the highest award given to a Patroller. Since the inception of the AAA Lifesaving Medal Award during 1949, 428 boys and girls have received the award. The two AAA School Safety Patrol Lifesaving Medal recipients will also be honored in separate ceremonies at their respective schools in coming weeks.

2018 Outstanding School Safety Patrol (OSSP) Winners- Washington, D.C. Metro

Alexandria City Public Schools

Eric Canales-Cabrera - Cora Kelly School for Math, Science and Technology

Arlington County Public Schools

Daniel Gates - Randolph Elementary School

Montgomery County

Aiden Edward Smith-Holness - Takoma Academy Preparatory School

Montgomery County Public Schools

Andrew McDonald - Waters Landing Elementary School

*Evan Silberberg - Farmland Elementary School

Fairfax County Public Schools

*Ella Andrle - Bonnie Brae Elementary School

Rachael Burkhart - Kings Glen Elementary School

Scott Currey - Fairview Elementary School

Brennan McCulloch - Sunrise Valley Elementary School

Maria Morel - Shrevewood Elementary School

Laiken Zamzow - Canterbury Woods Elementary School

*Recipient of the prestigious AAA School Safety Patrol Lifesaving Medal.  

The AAA School Safety Patrol is a national program that teaches student volunteers to help their school mates get to and from school safely. The Mid-Atlantic Foundation for Safety and Education selected the top 11 local nominees who excelled in the areas of leadership, dependability, character and academics.

The tremendous stories of courage and sacrifice demonstrated by this year’s award winners give us all something to celebrate, according to the Mid-Atlantic Foundation for Safety and Education and AAA Mid-Atlantic. “Part of a noble heritage, these young champions exemplify responsibility, bravery, and leadership and they help make their communities safer for their cohorts and classmates,” said Scully.

The Mid-Atlantic Foundation for Safety and Education is a non-profit, 501(c)(3), tax-exempt corporation dedicated to educating, training and raising the level of traffic and travel safety awareness for all. Through your generous contributions the Foundation works to make schools, communities and roads a safer place for everyone by providing resources & education programs for children, teens, adults and seniors.

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AAA provides automotive, travel and insurance services to 57 million members nationwide and nearly 78,000 members in the District of Columbia.  AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years.  The not-for-profit, fully tax-paying member organization works on behalf of motorists, who can now map a route, find local gas prices, discover discounts, book a hotel and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app for iPhone, iPad and Android. For more information, visit  https://aaa.com