Student raises safe-driving awareness through new program

By John Fennell
February 9, 2011

Winning the first of any award carries with it a special kind of burden. The burden of living up to that distinguished honor. For Jaiquann Beckham and Barien and Darien White, friends and track teammates at Christiana High School in Delaware, being awarded the i.am scholarship was only the first step on a journey of making a difference in their community.

For Beckham and his friends the scholarship award, created to provide financial assistance for the entirety of the recipients’ post-secondary education,  is meant to be an investment in the future of young leaders and innovators.

When a close friend of theirs was involved in a tragic car accident that killed one person and injured two others, the three friends founded Save1 stick1.  Along with Jeff Major, another member of the Christiana track team, they have started a non-profit organization. Their sole mission is to reduce the number of teen fatalities caused by inexperienced drivers.

“,” Beckham said.

Save 1 Stick 1 provides parents with a means to means to hold their child accountable before something tragic happens.  A bumper sticker is given to the parents to place on the back of their teen driver’s vehicle. That sticker has a unique ID number so other motorist if they see the teen driving dangerously can call a toll free number, give the number and parents will be alerted to the driving behavior of their teen.  It is similar to what you find on the back of a tractor trailer. The “How’s my Driving” decal that allows other motorist to report dangerous trucks on the road.

Their initial start up cost for the non-profit was in the purchasing of the actual bumper stickers.  Like most growing companies they needed of a significant amount of capital to help get off the ground.

“We put in a couple hundred dollars of our own money working summer jobs,” Beckham said.

The White brothers initially came up with the idea and included Beckham and Major.  Beckham’s role within the organization is in the area of public relations.  He finds investors, clientele and raises money.  Beckham even reached out to Mayor James Baker of Wilmington DE. to see if the state had any grants to that would help them.  Baker asked them for a budget proposal and they have a meeting scheduled over Spring Break.

Eventually that financial backing did arrive from a family friend of the Whites.  Decembre Pierce of North Carolina, who owns a daycare, The Love Center, offered to partner with them.  This was the just the break  these young men needed, who are now in the process of signing a contract with Pierce for the seed money that will get their company started.

“It was a blessing.” Beckham said of the timing of Pierce’s offer.

Beckham says he still has plans to talk to other local politicians to solicit more funding and help to get their name out. The young men who have started this company have taken an opportunity given to them by a famous person and have gone on to make a name for themselves and hopefully a positive impact for their community.

In May 2009 Beckham, an elementary education major, was invited on the Oprah Winfrey show. He along with the White brothers and fellow teammate Elijah Williams were  to be acknowledged for winning the inaugural scholarship given out by the Black Eyed Peas’ Will.i.am.

“It was scary. I was excited to go but at the same time I didn’t want to be in front of all those people. I guess just stage fright.”

The scholarship was awarded to them for having excellent grades in school as well as working after-school jobs.  In addition to school and work the three boys also ran track.

“We were from single parent homes and we were on the same track team,” Beckham said.

Will.i.am created the scholarship to provide financial assistance for the entirety of the recipient’s post-secondary education.  It is meant to be an investment in the futures of young leaders and innovators.  Upon completion of higher education the winners have the opportunity to go on and work for the social media website Dipdive.com.  The same website is known for the Yes We Can video by Will.i.am during the 2008 Presidential Elections.

Beckham came to Cabrini last year and continued running track, but the track program was canceled last year.  Losing track did not affect Beckham or his goals of graduating Cabrini where he plans to immediately go on to get his Masters Degree. Eventually he hopes to become a principal and track coach.

“I probably wasn’t going to run track this year honestly. Track was a means to pay for college but the scholarship gave me that opportunity.”

For Beckham and his friends their ambition and drive did not stop with winning the scholarship. When a close friend of theirs was involved in a tragic car accident that killed one person and injured two others, the three friends founded Save1 stick1.  Along with Jeff Major, another member of their track team, they have started a non-profit organization. Their sole mission is to reduce the number of teen fatalities caused by inexperienced drivers.

Their initial start up cost for the non-profit was in the purchasing of the actual bumper stickers.  Like most burgeoning companies they needed of a significant infusion of capital to help get off the ground.

“We put in a couple hundred dollars of our own money working summer jobs that any kid would have.”

The brothers White initially came up with the idea and included Beckham and Major.  Beckham’s role within the organization is in the area of public relations.  He finds investors, clientele and raises money.  Beckham even reached out to Mayor James Baker of Wilmington DE. to see if the state had any grants to that would help them.  Baker asked them for a budget proposal and they have a meeting scheduled over Spring Break.

Eventually that financial backing did arrive from a family friend of the Whites.  Decembre Pierce of North Carolina, who owns a daycare, The Love Center, offered to partner with them.  This was the just the break  these young men needed, who are now in the process of signing a contract with Pierce for the seed money that will get their company started.

“It was a blessing.” Beckham said of the timing of Pierce’s offer.

Beckham says he still has plans to talk to other local politicians to solicit more funding and help to get their name out. The young men who have started this company have taken an opportunity given to them by a famous person and have gone on to make a name for themselves and hopefully a positive impact for their community.

Upon completion of higher education the winners have the opportunity to go on and work for the social media website Dipdive.com.  The same website is known for the Yes We Can video by Will.i.am during the 2008 Presidential Elections.

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John Fennell

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