Law office hopes to combat underage drinking and driving with scholarship challenge

By Staff Writer

A law office in North Carolina will award more than $37,500 in college scholarships in an effort to raise awareness of the dangers of drinking and driving among high school students.

The Michael A. Demayo Scholarship program, which was organized in 2003, is challenging high school seniors to write an essay or prepare a presentation about preventing underage drinking and driving. Students will be judged based on their entry, as well as their SAT scores, transcripts and letters of recommendation. To qualify, teens must have already applied for full-time enrollment at a four-year college or university.

DeMayo said the goal of the program is to capture the suggestions of students because problem teens are more likely to respond best to advice from their own peers. The ideas from winning entries will be published in a booklet, which will be distributed to community leaders and lawmakers. DeMayo hopes that the teen feedback will help politicians craft effective polices that can help prevent drinking and driving.

Parents of teens who engage in irresponsible driving behaviors may consider tough love, which could include limited access to a vehicle or stricter curfews.