MADISON, Wis. – A south-central Wisconsin teenager is the latest young driver to dedicate his time and attention to ensuring the men and women working behind orange barrels in work zones make it home safely to their families every night.
Monday, the Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association (WTBA) awarded Dakoda Funk with its monthly Work Zone Safe Wisconsin scholarship check for successfully completing the online course. The event was part of CESA 2’s annual driver’s education conference in Madison.
Funk, 15, will be a sophomore at Milton High School in the fall. He wants to become a diesel mechanic or heavy equipment operator after graduation.
“I want to congratulate Dakoda and thank him and the hundreds of other students taking this course and equipping themselves to be smarter, safer drivers,” WTBA Exec. Director Steve Baas said. “Their investment of time and study will pay dividends in lives saved in our work zones.”
The free Work Zone Safe Wisconsin (WZSW) provides a modernized online approach to work zone education, teaching teens the latest laws, guidance, and information through the personalized stories of the actual people. Students must watch all 14 videos incorporated into the four-part course in their entirety in order to advance to each section’s quiz.
Since launching April 23, more than 750 people have taken WZSW.
Each month, a teen driver who successfully completes the course will be chosen as a winner of a $500 scholarship. The Wisconsin County Highway Association (WCHA) is the exclusive sponsor of the monthly prize.
“WCHA congratulates Dakoda as a monthly winner of the Work Zone Safe Move Over Safe Scholarship,” said Patrick Vander Sanden, Exec. Director of the Wisconsin County Highway Association (WCHA). “The more people who are aware of how to safely navigate the orange and yellow colors of the cones, safety vest and critical signage, the better chance to maintain a safe environment for our road crews, who need to stay focused.”
Unbeknownst to Dakoda, his Milton High driver’s education teacher, Steve Steinke, was attending the session and joined Dakoda on stage. He hopes more teens follow his lead.
“They probably should, because most people don’t know about all this stuff. And it gives you a chance to win $500,” Funk said with a smile.
In addition to WTBA and WCHA, the program is sponsored by the Transportation Education Fund (TEF), Operating Engineers Local 139, Wisconsin Laborers’ District Council (LiUNA), Wisconsin Counties Association, League of Wisconsin Municipalities, North Central States Regional Council of Carpenters, and Daar Engineering.
