Highland Terrace student and teacher inducted into AAA School Safety Patrol Hall of Fame

Andrew Counter received recognition as an outstanding school safety patroller and Mark Owen earned Advisor of the Year Award.

Andrew Counter, a sixth grader at Highland Terrace Elementary in Shoreline was inducted into the AAA School Safety Patrol Hall of Fame on Friday, May 24, in recognition of his dedication to safety, community stewardship and leadership.

Also honored was Mark Owen, current safety patrol advisor at Highland Terrace Elementary, as the 2013 School Safety Patrol Advisor of the Year.

As a long standing tradition, AAA Washington and a panel of judges from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission select top patrollers from schools across Washington each year, and honor their accomplishments through induction in the AAA School Safety Patrol Hall of Fame.

Hightland Terrace 6th grader
Andrew Counter

Counter was one of 10 outstanding patrollers in Washington to be recognized at the evening awards ceremony held before the Seattle Mariners game at Safeco Field. More than 700 fellow patrollers, family, friends and community leaders attended the game to honor the inductees.

Patrollers are evaluated and judged on their commitment to traffic safety, citizenship, leadership skills, and contributions to school safety patrol programs. Nominations require input from both the patroller and their advisor, including responses to a series of essay questions.  Counter was chosen for his outstanding leadership as described below:

As a respected safety advocate, Counter takes pride in being an effective problem solver at Highland Terrace Elementary. He regularly works one-on-one with fellow patrollers, students and adults to model proper safety practices. As one of the captains this year, his maturity, professionalism and leadership has been invaluable to help improve the safety of others at Highland Terrace Elementary. Counter not only demonstrates proper safety techniques, but always brings a positive attitude to everything he does and is well respected by his peers. His patrol advisor, Mark Owen, stated, “Tyler’s positive spirit rubs off on his patrol squad who follow his lead. His leadership makes our patrols very effective and successful at getting kids to and from school safely.”

Mark Owen honored as
patrol advisor of the year

Owen was recognized as the second annual AAA School Safety Patrol Advisor of the Year. School safety patrol would not thrive without the support and leadership from program advisors. Owen was recognized for this leadership as described below: 

Owen has been a school safety patrol advisor for more than 15 years. Prior to his role at Highland Terrace Elementary, Owen was the patrol advisor at Sunset Elementary. Throughout his tenure, he has nominated 10 of the AAA School Safety Patrol Hall of Fame inductees, helping empower patrollers to be successful safety advocates. Owen demonstrates patience, promotes self confidence, is a trusted mentor, and encourages his patrollers to be leaders in their community. Overall, Owen has been a valued partner to AAA in helping support the importance of traffic safety education.

AAA created the School Safety Patrol more than 90 years ago and partners with local agencies to bring the program to elementary schools across Washington. The safety patrol has been credited with being a major contributor to the substantial reduction in fatalities of school age children (ages 5-14).

The 2013 AAA School Safety Patrol Hall of Fame Inductees:

• Tyler Ashley - Tiffany Park Elementary - Renton
• Andrew Counter - Highland Terrace Elementary - Shoreline
• Blakely Doerge - Little Mountain Elementary - Mount Vernon
• Sydney Grayson - Stevens Elementary - Seattle
• Victor Grishko - Cooper Elementary - Spokane
• Alyssa Larson - Michael Anderson Elementary - Fairchild Air Force Base
• James Lasswell - Westview Elementary - Spokane
• Jaylin Miller - Star Lake Elementary - Kent
• Trescege Ramirez Diaz - Tukwila Elementary - Tukwila
• Payton Zitterkopf - Image Elementary - Vancouver

AAA School Safety Patrol Advisor of the Year:

• Mark Owen - Highland Terrace Elementary School - Shoreline

AAA Washington has been serving members and the traveling public since 1904. The organization provides a variety of exclusive benefits, including roadside assistance, discounts, maps and personalized trip planning, to its 1,060,000 members. In addition, its full-service travel and insurance agencies provide products and services for members and the public.