More Than A Competition: UGA Team Works to Save Lives

UGA Bateman Team members Ashley Beebe, Jarek Beem, Audrey Califf, Abby Blaylock and Sydney Carroll stand with UGA football player Kris Durham at the winner's party on February 25, 2008.

Photo Credit: Evelyn Hanes

by Matthew Burgoyne
03/19/2008

Approximately 2,446 children under the age of 14 die every year in motor vehicle crashes. That's 2,446 future teachers, doctors, lawyers, mothers, fathers, and the list could go on for days. Safe Kids Athens Area, a coalition member of Safe Kids Worldwide, strives to protect the youth of Athens and five students at the University of Georgia are trying to get their message the publicity it deserves.

Ashley Beebe, Jarek Beem, Abby Blaylock, Audrey Califf and Sydney Carroll are members of the 2008 Public Relations Student Society of America Bateman Case Study Competition Team representing the University of Georgia. The annual competition allows PRSSA members the opportunity to utilize their skills to plan and execute a public relations campaign geared towards an organization. This year, the client is Chevrolet’s Safe Kids Buckle Up. This program is a part of Safe Kids Worldwide, the first and only international nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing unintentional childhood injury. For an added twist, the primary audience for the campaign had to be tweens, children between the ages of 11-14.

For their campaign, the UGA team created a “virtual video showdown.” Students in 6th and 7th grades from W. R. Coile Middle School competed against each other in a video contest. Over 50 students from each grade created a video on the importance of buckling up when in a vehicle. The videos were then posted on YouTube and TeacherTube. The team with the most views between February 18, 2008 and February 22, 2008 would be the winner. The 7th graders were the winners, but everyone involved gained something from this experience. Charged with the task of increasing awareness for Safe Kids Buckle Up, the UGA Bateman team used innovative methods to reach their target tween audience. The students at W. R. Colie Middle School gained an understanding for the importance of motor vehicle safety, and the Bateman team gave them that knowledge.

The Bateman competition is no easy task. These five students worked relentlessly to build the best campaign for Safe Kids Athens Area.

“We are taking every skill we have learned, and compressing them,” says team member Ashley Beebe.

Each member has brought something different to the team, allowing them to have the success they have had. Whether it is humor to keep the team grounded or a competitive edge to keep the team motivated, all five of the team members not only want to win. They want to help the children of Athens avoid injury or even death.

Evelyn Hanes, Coordinator for Safe Kids Athens Area, appreciated the work the Bateman team has accomplished. “We wish more people knew about Safe Kids,” says Hanes. Fortunately for her, and the residents of Athens, the UGA Bateman team is competing to do just that.

For more information about Chevrolet’s Safe Kids Buckle Up, visit the Safe Kids Athens Area website. You can also view the Virtual Video Showdown entries here (6th graders) and here (7th graders).

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