FINDLAY, Ohio — Teenagers generally look forward to getting their driver's license and in Hancock County, there's a scholarship to help cover the cost of one of the requirements.
In its second year, the Drive to Succeed Scholarship Program aims to get more teenagers into driver's education classes before they get their driver's license.
In Ohio, you must take a driver's education course if you get your license as a minor, but it's not required after you've turned 18.
Hancock Public Health Community health educator, Jessica Halsey, said this scholarship is aimed to get those teens through driver's ed who for a variety of reasons would otherwise wait until they're 18 to get their license, usually to avoid the cost.
"Getting them that tool to help them be a better driver with distractions and putting their phones down," Halsey said. "Making sure they're driving the correct speed, making sure they're following all the law correctly."
Hancock Public Health received $1,500 from the program and intends to apply for an upcoming second round of funding.
“Teen driver training courses can cost anywhere from $300 to $600 or more, which can be a huge barrier for some families,” Ohio Governor Mike DeWine said. “By increasing accessibility to this important training for teenage drivers, we can better ensure their safety, the safety of their passengers and the safety of others on the road.”
Last year, there were 346 teen-related vehicle crashes in Hancock County, with no deaths and three serious injuries.
The goal of this statewide program is to minimize traffic deaths as much as possible.
“Every year, traffic crashes claim hundreds of lives in Ohio and educating our youngest drivers is an important step toward preventing crashes,” Andy Wilson, director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety said. “We are proud that these grants will directly support hundreds of young people who otherwise wouldn’t have had the means to complete driver education and gain the experience needed to become safer drivers.”
"Preventing those deaths, getting that education out there, making sure that people are aware of what the laws are," Halsey said. "Making sure you know the rules of the road and working with our community partners to do so."
Any student who meets a baseline criteria can sign up for the limited funding.
"You have to be on free or reduced lunch, have a GPA of over two and not miss more than two school days unexcused in that last grading period," Halsey said.
You can pick up an application for the Drive to Succeed scholarship at the Hancock Public Health offices, or in any Hancock County school office or school counselor's office.
Or you can fill out an online application HERE.