Monmouth University student Aziza Ahmed (Hightstown, NJ) was named Designated Driver HERO of the Year at a ceremony held at Monmouth University on March 7. Ahmed will be featured on HERO Campaign billboards located on the New Jersey Turnpike. In addition, she received a $300 Monmouth Mall gift certificate, a plaque, and a HERO campaign tee shirt.
Nick Hreshko (Warrington, PA) received the second place award, and Stephen Andes (Parkton, MD) received the third place award. Honorable mention was given to Samantha De Almeida (Brick, NJ), Jackie Burzo (Staten Island, NY), and Robert Panasuk (Jackson, NJ).
The Community Award was given to Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini for her outstanding dedication to saving lives by promoting the mission of the HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers.
The HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers is dedicated to preventing drunken driving tragedies by promoting the use of safe and sober designated drivers. Established in October 2000 in memory of Navy Ensign John Elliott of New Jersey, the campaign has grown to become a national movement to save lives on our highways. Ensign Elliott was a May 2000 graduate of the United States Naval Academy who was killed in a head-on collision with a drunken driver on July 22, 2000.
Monmouth University adopted the HERO Campaign in 2007 and is the model school for the program. Monmouth’s HERO Campaign promotes the use of sober designated drivers through clubs and organizations on campus.
For more information, contact Monmouth University Substance Awareness Coordinator Suanne Schaad at 732-263-5804 or visit herocampaign.org.