For more information, contact: Wendy Ambrose, Executive Director, FCCLA 651-330-2950 (work) 612-812-6275 (cell) wendy.ambrose@mnfccla.

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Jessica Erickson, AT&T 608-282-7870 (work) 608-692-5340 (cell) jessica.erickson@att.com

Teen-Led Dont DrIvE Distracted Summit to Educate Peers on Dangers of Texting & Driving
Two Speakers Whose Lives Changed Forever Because of Texting While Driving to Share Their Stories with Nearly 1,200 Minnesota High School Students at FCCLA State Conference
BLOOMINGTON, Wednesday, April 9, 2014 Nearly 1,200 teens from throughout Minnesota will learn about the dangers of texting and driving and be encouraged to take the pledge to never text behind the wheel during the Dont DrIvE Distracted Summit in Bloomington on Friday, April 11, 2014 at 10 a.m. The teen-led Summit will feature 2 speakers whose lives were changed forever due to texting and driving: Reggie Shaw: A 19-year-old college student at the time, Reggie was texting while driving when he caused a crash that took the lives of two men, James Furaro and Keith ODell. Reggies story is featured in the national documentary From One Second to the Next directed by acclaimed filmmaker Werner Herzog and sponsored in part by AT&T. Sontiana Brandts: A 16-year-old Minnesota teenager at the time, Sontiana was texting with a friend while driving when she lost control of her car, overcorrected, rolled the vehicle and was ejected because she was not wearing her seatbelt. She is now paralyzed from the chest down and will be in a wheelchair for the rest of her life.

Other activities at the Summit will include a distracted driving simulator, a crashed car photo opportunity with all 1,200 delegates, and a drive for students to take AT&Ts pledge to never text behind the wheel. The Summit is being organized by Minnesota FCCLA State Officers Marissa Kunerth, a junior at Fulda High School, and Sammy Jo Severance, a senior at West Central Area High School in Barrett. The teens were chosen last fall to participate in the National Teen Distracted Driving Summit in Washington, D.C., hosted by AT&T and the National Organizations for Youth Safety (NOYS), and then tasked with holding a State Summit in Minnesota. The event is taking place as part of the Minnesota FCCLAs State Leadership Conference. Who: Nearly 1,200 Minnesota FCCLA students (grades 7 12 ) Reggie Shaw, featured in From One Second to the Next Sontiana Brandts, MN teen paralyzed due to texting & driving Dont DrIvE Distracted Teen Summit Friday, April 11, 2014 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Doubletree by Hilton 7800 Normandale Boulevard Bloomington, MN
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