Congratulations to Joy Smith, a junior at Lisbon David Anderson High School. She just received her driver’s license! She is the first student in Columbiana County to complete the Drive to Succeed Scholarship program. Joy completed her driver’s training course, both online and in the car lessons, and has recently passed her driver’s exam and obtained her license.
Joy is a busy, hardworking student. She is a varsity cheerleader. She is planning to attend Columbiana County Career and Technical Center in the fall to study Precision Machinery. She and her mom, Angela Smith, are excited about her getting her driver’s license. Joy learned at school about a countywide program called the Drive to Succeed Scholarship program, which provides the funds for eligible students to complete their driver’s education course to prepare for getting their driver’s license. The grant, provided by Ohio Department of Traffic Safety, provides about $500 for each student to take the necessary courses prior to taking their driver’s exam. The Drive to Succeed Scholarship program is managed by the Columbiana County Educational Service Center, in partnership with the Business Advisory Council and the Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office.
Joy says that she is excited about getting her driver’s license for a number of reasons. She looks forward to the freedom of having her license, and the possibility of getting a part time job to start earning an income. She says that learning to drive isn’t easy. The online portion took a lot of time, and the in-car portion was difficult at first. She thinks that “maneuverability was the hardest skill to learn but with practice, it got easier.”
Joy’s mom, Angela Smith, says that the Drive to Succeed Scholarship program is “beneficial in lots of areas.” As a parent, she appreciates it, because “the cost of everything is so high - groceries, utility bills, medical costs, just to name a few.”
Scholarships for Driver’s Education courses are still available for students aged 15 ½ - 18, who attend school in Columbiana County. Anyone interested in learning more about the Columbiana County Drive to Succeed Scholarship Program could either see their school counselor, visit the Columbiana County Educational Service Center website at ccesc.k12.oh.us, or contact Marian Dangerfield at the Columbiana County Educational Service Center at 330-424-9591.