Six Puget Sound Students in 2022 AAA School Safety Patrol Hall of Fame Class

In recognition of her dedication to traffic safety, community stewardship and leadership, Josie Ellis, an 8th-grade student at Hazel Wolf K-8 school in Seattle, was one of six Puget Sound students recently chosen for induction into the 2022 AAA School Safety Patrol Hall of Fame.

During her fourth year on the AAA School Safety Patrol at Hazel Wolf K-8, Josie asked if she could mentor the fifth-grade students eligible to join the program for the first time. According to patrol advisor, Martha Levenson, Josie’s outreach created the highest number of fifth-grade patrol applications ever.

“Josie spoke about the benefits of doing patrol: serving community, making a larger contribution, connecting with kids you would not meet otherwise, developing teamwork, learning leadership skills and finding a voice in the community,” Levenson said. “She spoke wisely about her own development and what she has gotten from patrol.”

As soon as the fifth-grade students joined patrol, Levenson said Josie made herself 100 percent available to all of them — explaining how to wear the uniforms, demonstrating how to hold/use the flags, and answering questions by email.

“It is this kind of confidence, poise, support and generosity that makes Josie such a unique leader and mentor in her work with the safety patrol,” Levenson said. “Her contribution has been extraordinary in a year when things were a little shaky at the start.”

As a long-standing tradition, a panel of judges from AAA Washington, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission chooses ten top patrollers to be inducted into the AAA Washington School Safety Patrol Hall of Fame. Nominations require input from both the patroller and their advisor, including responses to a series of essay questions.

In addition to Josie, this year’s list of outstanding patrollers includes five other students from around Puget Sound, in addition to four from Spokane, Sedro-Woolley, Ritzville and Wenatchee, respectively.

2022 AAA School Safety Patrol Hall of Fame Inductees*

Adi Davidson, Echo Lake Elementary – Shoreline
Caleb Daw, Forest View Elementary – Everett
Josie Ellis, Hazel Wolf K-8 – Seattle
Dayton Gregory, Moran Prairie Elementary – Spokane
Kylie Hawkins, Oak Harbor Intermediate School – Oak Harbor
Josephine Houtby, Central Elementary – Sedro-Woolley
Zach Illsley, Samantha Smith Elementary – Sammamish
Jayda Lobe, Ritzville Grade School – Ritzville
Alejandro Martinez Otto, Elizabeth Blackwell Elementary – Sammamish
Mason Parr, Washington Elementary – Wenatchee

AAA created the School Safety Patrol 102 years ago and partners with local agencies to bring the program to elementary schools across Washington. AAA Washington has been inducting outstanding patrollers into the local Hall of Fame for 30 years.

*To learn more about any of the 2022 other Hall of Fame inductees, please reach out to the  AAA Washington Media Contacts below.

About AAA Washington:

AAA Washington was established in 1904 by 10 prominent Seattleites determined to champion the betterment of motoring conditions and laws, the preservation of Washington state’s natural beauty and the promotion of Washington as an unrivaled tourist destination. Nearly 120 years later, the club continues to pursue these on behalf of its 1.2 million members.

Members of AAA Washington receive exclusive benefits, including roadside assistance, discounts on hotels and rental cars, comprehensive insurance options, and personalized trip planning. AAA Washington was named a Best Place to Work by Puget Sound Business Journal and voted the best Travel/Tourism Company by 425 Business readers in 2023, and AAA was named one of the most trusted travel and automotive brands in the U.S. Additional information is available through the company’s Washington and northern Idaho stores and at www.AAA.com. 

About AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety:

Established in 1947 by AAA, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety is a nonprofit, publicly funded, 501(c)(3) charitable research and educational organization. The AAA Foundation’s mission is to prevent traffic deaths and injuries by conducting research into their causes and by educating the public about strategies to prevent crashes and reduce injuries when they do occur. This research is used to develop educational materials for drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists and other road users. Visit www.AAAFoundation.org.

Media Contact

Fearey o/b/o AAA Washington 
AAA@feareygroup.com 
206-838-9209

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