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San Marcos Academy received the Outstanding Crime Prevention Program of the Year Award from the Texas Crime Prevention Association (TCPA) July 15.
The school was recognized for the success of their 2009 Shattered Dreams program and the continued impact that videos from the program are having online.
Prior to winning the state-level award, the school had also received the Outstanding Program of the Year Award from the Central Texas Crime Prevention Association, a regional affiliate of TCPA, in December of 2009.
The academy conducted its Shattered Dreams program in April 2009 with the assistance of San Marcos and Hays County law enforcement and emergency service agencies and Central Texas Medical Center staff. The program was funded by SMA's Parent Connection, and several parent volunteers participated in the planning.
Shattered Dreams is designed to alert students to the dangers associated with drinking and driving. The program involved the dramatization of an alcohol-related crash on campus complete with police, EMS response personnel, emergency room treatment, family notifications and the consequent arrest and booking of the driver.
Marcus McDonald, SMA videographer, created a three-part video documenting the entire program. Since it was first posted on the school's website and linked to YouTube, the video has received more than 12,000 hits, spreading the message that drinking and driving can have serious and even deadly consequences.
The video has also been used in Standard Field Sobriety Training for officers across Texas.
