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Students from Conkwright Elementary School in Winchester participated in a special flag-raising ceremony Wednesday morning to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the AAA School Safety Patrollers program.

The patrollers joined their advisor Beth Dennis, Principal Travis Marcum, former patrollers from the school’s staff, Winchester Mayor Ed Burtner and Sgt. Monty Corbett to celebrate one of the nation’s oldest school service organizations.

“It was created right here in the U.S. to help school children stay safe while walking to school,” said Lori Weaver Hawkins, the public and government affairs manager for AAA Bluegrass. “It has expanded to include different areas of school safety.”

Weaver said that the patrol’s adviser usually determines where patrollers lend a hand, but they have helped in the car and bus unloading areas and performed hall monitoring.

Sgt. Corbett had high praise for the patrollers.

“These students look out for their peers’ safety every day and take their responsibility seriously,” he said. “They are the future leaders in our communities and have a strong desire to serve others. It was a pleasure to meet them this morning.”

Weaver said the patrollers are in excellent company. Alums of the program include numerous local and national leaders, including current U.S. President Joe Biden.

The program model has been adopted in over 30 countries, including  England, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and New Zealand. Over 1,000 students across 30 schools participate in the program across central Kentucky.

For more information on the program, visit www.cluballiance.aaa.com/traffic-safety/school-safety-patrol.