Competition will test young motorists’ driving & knowledge skills
September 21 , 2004 – More than 30,000 high school students will have the chance to win a scholarship of up to $1,500 in the second annual Driver Ed Challenge this fall, Manitoba Public Insurance announced today.
“The inaugural Driver Ed Challenge was a tremendous success,” said Lou Gervino, Manager of Driver Education and Improvement for Manitoba Public Insurance. “The Challenge provides novice motorists with a head start on safe and responsible driving when they first get behind the wheel.”
Leo Narynsky, a student at Kelvin High School, was crowned the 2004 grand champion Runners-up were Mike Rogalsky, 17, of Winnipeg’s Glenlawn Collegiate and Meaghan Pacholek, 16, of Winnipeg’s Miles Macdonell Collegiate. The 2004 Driver Ed Challenge attracted students from as far north as Thompson, and south to Winkler.
The Driver Ed Challenge consists of three demanding phases. Students can enter by successfully completing an online driving quiz on Manitoba Public Insurance’s website – www.mpi.mb.ca. The second phase consists of a series of regional road tests across the province.
Sixty of the top qualifiers advance to the Driver Ed Challenge championship final set to take place at Winnipeg’s Red River Ex grounds in May 2005. A series of skill-testing driving courses will be set up at the site. Finalists’ road knowledge will also be tested.
“Each phase is designed to challenge the student’s knowledge and ability, with the ultimate goal of advancing to the championship event,” said Gervino. The top student driver will be awarded a $1,500 scholarship, with second and third-place finishers receiving $1,000 and $500 respectively.
The competition is open to current Drivers Ed students at least 15 � years old who hold learner’s licence ; and to graduates of the Driver Education program who were still in high school as of May 2004 and who hold learner’s or intermediate licences. Information can be obtained from Manitoba Public Insurance Driver Education instructors and the corporation’s web site at www.mpi.mb.ca.
Gervino noted that the Manitoba Public Insurance High School Driver Education Program – one of the corporation’s most important safety initiatives aimed at young people – continues to grow by leaps and bounds.
“This fall, about 14,000 students in 170 schools are accessing practical on-the-road and classroom driving instruction from locally based instructors. That’s a far cry from the 1,400 students who took the original Driver Ed program in 27 high schools 30 years ago.”
