Submitting innovative safe driving messages has paid off for students with the 2016 Fall Create Real Impact contest, presented by Impact Teen Drivers and California Casualty. After sorting through thousands of entries, awards totaling $13,000 were given for art, music, video and writing.
$1,500 Grand prizes winners are:
Carley Calfee, Toano, VA, for the poster, “You Only Have One Life”
Esteban Hiracheta, Corpus Christi, TX, for the song, “It’s Not Worth It”
Miles Kent-Pettit, Eugene, OR, for the video, “Gluv B4 U Go”
Johnathan Joyce, Madison, MS, for the poem, “Just a Passenger”
Based on the number of entries, the winning schools are Cab Calloway School of the Arts in Wilmington, DE; Beavercreek High School in Beavercreek, OH; and Our Lady of Lourdes Academy in Miami, FL. Each of the schools received $1,500 prizes.
Twice a year, students ages 14-22 are encouraged to submit essays or poems, artwork, videos, and music to address the critical teen distracted driving danger. Winners are determined by a panel of judges and by online voting for prizes ranging from $1,500 to $500. The contest encourages peer-to-peer messages and creative expression from students to help end the number one killer of young drivers.
“The Create Real Impact contest is a creative way to empower youth to develop life-saving messaging which is both relevant and effective at reaching peers in their social media comfort zone,” said Kelly Browning, Ph.D., Executive Director, Impact Teen Drivers.
Impact Teen Drivers has reached more than two million teens since 2007 and the Create Real Impact contest began in 2009. California Casualty is a founding partner of the nonprofit and continues to provide support for the contest. California Casualty representatives will help present checks to the winning schools and awardees.
“The importance of this contest can’t be overstated,” said California Casualty CEO Beau Brown. “While insurance can replace a mangled vehicle, we can’t replace a teenager’s life. In a split second, everything for that family changes forever; it’s a terrible tragedy that no one should endure.”
At the end of the video below, there is information regarding our “Promise to Drive Focused” giveaway. Educators who promise to drive without distractions will be entered to win a new car! Click here to enter/learn more.
Teaching can be an enormously challenging job. As a result, it’s not uncommon for teachers to sometimes wonder if the impact they make is worth the challenges they face. We thought it would be helpful to create a space where educators could come together to discuss these challenges.
And that’s exactly what we did. Thanks to help from SoulPancake, we brought 5 teachers together to discuss the challenges they face. There were a few laughs, a few tears, and some pretty incredible surprises.
Eduardo Niebla’s passion for teaching high school science is getting a boost with a $2,500 Academic Award from California Casualty. Eduardo was shocked when he was announced as the winner during a recent staff meeting.
“It was such a surprise because I have never won anything before,” he said. “I thought I was in trouble when they called my name.”
The anxiety turned out to be a blessing for Mr. Niebla, who will be able to purchase much needed equipment for his chemistry and forensic science classes; technology that will enhance the high-level learning he provides for the students at Calexico High School in Calexico, California.
“Budgets are always tight,” Mr. Niebla said, “This will help ensure that our students have the supplies and materials they need to succeed.”
The Academic Award was created to ease the economic impact felt by educators who often spend their own money to outfit their classrooms with essential supplies and materials. This is the 11th Academic Award from California Casualty since the program began in 2012.
“This award is a reflection of the proud 65 year relationship we have with educators,” said Sr. VP Mike McCormick. “We are committed to serving them and helping them make a difference for children.”
“I am very glad to have the support of a company like California Casualty who believes in investing in education and the future. I see the results when students get into universities and colleges, and when they come back to show me their diplomas and tell me they decided to go into the science field because of what they learned here,’” he said. Mr. Niebla is proud that Calexico High School has such a high level of students who are accepted into University of California and California State University colleges.
Mr. Niebla said that he developed his love of learning from his parents, who were both chemists. After working as a chemist himself, he decided he wanted to teach others instead. He has taught for 18 years, the past 12 at Calexico High School. He and his wife have a daughter who works as a graphic designer and a son who is a sophomore at Calexico High School.
Entries for the next California Casualty $2,500 Academic Award are now being taken at www.calcasacademicaward.com. The entry deadline is December 4, 2016, with a winner announced after the New Year.
Sales is a competitive career that requires skill, dedication, and drive. Often salespeople will have many positions in their career, but at Calcas, our goal is to bring in the best and make them want to stay!
Here are some additional reasons to join our Leawood, KS based sales team:
You’ll have the opportunity to serve extraordinary people. We exclusively serve American Heroes – Educators, Nurses, Firefighters, and Peace Officers. Calcas is a pioneer in affinity marketing with these groups and is well known in their communities. With every call, you’ll have the chance to make a meaningful, long-term impact in the life of someone who works every day to make our communities better.
You’ll work with cutting edge sales systems. Calcas is a model for efficiently using CRM and dialing systems to optimize our consultants’ production. This means you’ll get the right leads, from the right people, at the right time, so you can keep your focus on selling.
You’ll receive highly qualified marketing leads. At Calcas, sales and marketing work closely together. We don’t purchase leads – you’ll be speaking with people who want to talk to you. Our 100 year plus reputation of caring for our customers will back you up, and the benefits available for our groups gives you plenty of sales ammo!
You’ll experience a culture focused on growth and opportunity.
You want a challenge? You got one. Those that are up to the challenge will have opportunities to advance within the company. Our training is second to none, and our learning and development program ensures you can continue to grow your skill set.
You’ll come to work in a family atmosphere. We’re a family owned company, and our employees and policyholders are part of that family. If you want to work at a company that supports you as individual, nurtures your potential, and welcomes you in every day – you’re looking in the right place.
They work long hours supporting and educating our children. How often have you taken the time to say thank you? Here are 25 simple ways to say thanks:
Give a sincere thank you in person
Slip a thank you card on their desk
Write a special note in your child’s homework folder
Send a kind email to thank them for something specific they did for your child
Have your child write a note or draw a picture for them
Stop in for a brief moment before or after school to say thanks
Tell the principal and other administrators how much you appreciate your child’s teacher
Send in supplies for the classroom
Volunteer in the classroom
Chaperone a field trip
Volunteer to help with something at home (cutting out lamination, organizing files, etc.)
Offer to come in and help make copies or work on a special project
Give a gift card for Teacher Appreciation Week
Donate an iTunes gift cards so the class can download new apps
Buy a book to donate to the class library
Bring in homemade treats
Deliver a cookie, or other tasty treat from a local bakery
Find out what their favorite snack is and bring it to them
Recognize them with some takeout for lunch
Make a bouquet of pencils or highlighters or other school supplies
Compliment them on Facebook
Bring in their favorite soft drink or tea
Give them flowers
Buy a gift certificate they can use at a bookstore
Help with stress; bring a relaxing gift – bath salts, soothing lotions or gift certificate for a pedicure
Here’s another way to show appreciation for a teacher that made a difference in you or your child’s life; join the National Teachers Hall of Fame’s (NTHF) “One In A Million – Teachers Who Make A Difference” campaign. Anyone in the U.S. can place a teacher’s name into the Hall of Fame archives with a $1 donation. Donations of $125 will also get the teacher’s name placed on a brick of the NTHF donor’s wall of fame. Learn more about honoring a teacher at https://www.nthf.org/honor-an-educator.
California Casualty appreciates educators. Our relationship spans 65 years. We thank them with numerous giving programs that make a real difference:
$2,500 Academic Award – for classroom supplies and learning materials (calcasacademicaward.com)
Thomas R. Brown Athletics Grants – to help high school sports programs affected by budget cuts (calcasathleticsgrant.com)
California Casualty auto and home insurance is also specifically tailored for educator’s lifestyle with exclusive benefits not available to the general public:
$500 personal property coverage for items stolen, damaged or destroyed in your vehicle
Reduced or zero deductible for vandalism or damage to your vehicle when it is parked at work
Rates guaranteed for a full year (not six months)
Free identity theft protection with each policy
Multiple payment options including EZ Pay and holiday or summer skips
This award is a reflection of the proud 65 year relationship we have with educators,” said Sr. VP Mike McCormick. “We are committed to serving them and helping them make a difference for children.”