Bedford County earns state recognition for safety campaigns

(L-R) Sgt Randy Smith, Secretary of Transportation, Brian Moran, Cpl. Ryan Hilbish, Capt. Tim Hayden, Deputy Chris Cook (Copyright by WSLS - All rights reserved)

BEDFORD COUNTY (WSLS 10) - Sheriff Mike Brown announced Monday Bedford County Sheriff's Office School Resource Officers attended the Virginia State Youth Of VA Speak Out awards dinner, held at James Madison University.

Each SRO coordinates a Youth Of VA Speak Out team in the high and middle schools in Bedford county. Students create campaigns that promote safe driving habits, seat belt usage, no texting while driving and how to be a responsible passenger.

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Out of 146 schools throughout the state,  Bedford County SROs and their schools walked away with seven of the top awards, over 50 percent, including Cpl. Ryan Hilbish, Law Enforcement Officer of the Year, his school principal, Dr. Leann Calvert of Jefferson Forest High, received the School Administrator of the Year, Jefferson Forest High also received the Outstanding YOVASO Club of the Year.

Deputy Chris Cook, SRO of Staunton River High was awarded school Resource Officer of the year and Staunton River High won YOVASO Club of the Year. Student Volunteer of the Year went to Grace Overstreet, daughter of Stephanie Overstreet, who received the Shining Star Award for her efforts in promoting teen driver safety through her foundation "F.O.C.U.S. for ABB" which was established in memory of her daughter, Ashley.

"We have lost too many of our young people to car crashes in this county and programs like this have brought that ugly statistic down dramatically over the past five years.  I congratulate all the students and the SROs for their hard work and the school administrators encouraging them by embracing this program," said Sheriff Brown in a written statement, released on Monday.