Student Wellness program receives safety grant that could save lives

The Student Wellness program at Augusta University has received a $13,144 grant from the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety to help educate students that could save lives.  

The grant was awarded by the GOHS with federal funds from the National Traffic Safety Administration to bring the Arrive Alive Tour to Augusta University. This is an interactive driver simulation that puts students behind the wheel so they can feel what it’s like to be an impaired driver.

“This grant allows us to expand our efforts to educate students about safe alcohol consumption and the risks of driving under the influence,” said Morgan Davis, Student Wellness coordinator. “Using the funds from the grant, we are able to bring the Arrive Alive Tour on campus, which is an interactive simulation for students to participate in. During this event, students sit in a car and are put through a virtual experience of driving drunk, drugged or distracted. It is a really impactful event to show our students how they can be safer on the road.”

“This grant allows us to expand our efforts to educate students about safe alcohol consumption and the risks of driving under the influence. Using the funds from the grant, we are able to bring the Arrive Alive Tour on campus, which is an interactive simulation for students to participate in. During this event, students sit in a car and are put through a virtual experience of driving drunk, drugged or distracted. It is a really impactful event to show our students how they can be safer on the road.”

Morgan Davis, Student Wellness coordinator

Along with the simulator, the funds are used for more personnel to help plan events and to help educate students about alcohol awareness and DUI prevention.

“The grant also allows us to hire Peer Educators, which are student staff who help create event ideas for alcohol awareness and other dimensions of wellness. Our Peer Educators are essential to providing experiences for students to improve their holistic well-being and learn about the resources available to support their wellness,” Davis said.

At the end of the day, the mission is to save lives.

“The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety and our partners continue to implement programs designed to save lives and promote safe driving behaviors,” said Allen Poole, director of the Governor’s Office of Highway Safety. “We ask everyone to help our state and nation reach the attainable goal of zero traffic deaths by driving safe speeds, always wearing a seat belt, keeping the focus on the road and not the phone, and never operating a vehicle under the influence of any substance that impairs your ability to drive.”

The grant year for this award is from Oct. 1, 2023, to Sept. 30, 2024.

Davis said Student Wellness plans to continue to reapply for the funds because it expands AU’s reach to students.