Seniors receive scholarship for promoting safe driving

As graduation ceremonies begin across the Ark-La-Tex and teen drivers prepare for summer travel, the North East Texas Regional Mobility Authority (NET RMA) recognized local students promoting safe driving awareness through its Linda Thomas Memorial Safe Driving Scholarship program.

This year’s scholarship recipients from Cass County include Lucy Ransom of Atlanta High School and Makenna Hamilton of Queen City High School.

The scholarship program awards $2,000 scholarships to Northeast Texas high school seniors who promote safe driving awareness through essays focused on distracted and impaired driving.

“The message that we’re really looking to get across is for young drivers to be aware of what’s happening on the roadways,” said Matt Nelson, NET RMA Board Member representing Cass County. “We want them to develop good habits so that we can have safe drivers for our communities.”

Lucy Ransom, a senior at Atlanta High School, said modern technology and changing driving habits have created new challenges for young drivers.

“There’s been a lot of advancements in technology and changes to the way we live our lives and drive,” Ransom said. “I think it’s important to take that into account and notice the changing patterns of our world and how that’s affecting us, and the rate of accidents and deaths.”

Queen City High School senior Makenna Hamilton wrote in her scholarship essay about helping her grandmother understand new vehicle safety technology and the importance of lifelong driver education.

“When we treat driving as a skill that needs constant sharpening, we help ensure that every grandmother, parent, and student on the road makes it home safely to the people who love them,” Hamilton wrote in her essay.

The scholarship honors the legacy of longtime NET RMA board chair Linda Thomas, who served the agency for more than 18 years. The program encourages students to become advocates for safer driving habits in their schools and communities.

Across Northeast Texas, NET RMA awarded scholarships to 10 graduating seniors representing six counties. Recipients may use scholarship funds toward tuition, fees, books, housing, or other college-related expenses.

The NET RMA is an independent government agency created to accelerate the development of trans-portation projects in Northeast Texas. The agency’s mission is to provide regional mobility solutions that improve quality of life, enhance economic development, and support efficient transportation throughout the region. The NET RMA represents 14 Northeast Texas counties and was established in 2004.