Two Shoreline students selected as 2015 AAA School Safety Patrol Hall of Fame inductees

It takes courage to be a leader and Thomas Bert, a sixth grader at Parkwood Elementary, and Sophia Staheli, a sixth grader at Highland Terrace Elementary, have what it takes.

Bert and Staheli were selected among the top 10 outstanding patrollers in Washington state to be inducted in the 2015 AAA School Safety Patrol Hall of Fame.

In recognition of their dedication to safety, community stewardship and leadership, Bert and Staheli will be recognized at an evening awards ceremony held before a Seattle Mariners game at Safeco Field on Friday, April 24.

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.

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. This year, the panel reviewed and evaluated nearly 50 nominations to determine the top 10 inductees.

Virginia Schlais, school safety patrol advisor at Olympic Elementary in Longview, will also be recognized as the fourth annual AAA School Safety Patrol Advisor of the Year.

2015 AAA School Safety Patrol Hall of Fame Inductees

Katherine Banta - White Bluffs Elementary - Richland

Thomas Bert - Parkwood Elementary - Shoreline

Mikah Johnson - Washington Elementary - Auburn

Viviann Lamkin - La Center Elementary – La Center

Annie Del Monte - Lynnwood Elementary - Lynnwood

Sophia Staheli - Highland Terrace Elementary – Shoreline

Jonah Tannen - Spruce Street School - Seattle

Addy Telzrow - Coe Elementary - Seattle

Ellie White - Riverview Elementary - Snohomish

Kyle Wickline - Fernwood Elementary - Bothell

AAA School Safety Patrol Advisor of the Year:

Virginia Schlais - Olympic Elementary - Longview

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 traffic related fatalities of school age children (ages 5-14).