WILKES-BARRE, PA (June 8, 2021) Amaya Zegarski, a fifth-grader at Greater Nanticoke Area Elementary Center, has been recognized as a 2021 AAA Outstanding School Safety Patroller.  Zegarski is the only student in the Wilkes-Barre region to win the award.

Outstanding AAA School Safety Patroller

As a member of the Greater Nanticoke Area Elementary Center School Safety Patrol, Zegarski is described as outgoing, a strong leader and someone who is always willing to take on additional Patrol duties, lending a helping hand to her fellow classmates and teachers. She is honest and truthful in all she does and proudly stands up for what she believes in. The school’s Safety Patrol Advisor, Ed Grant, Jr. says of Zegarski, “Amaya is very respectful and diligent in all that she does. She is beyond her years with her maturity.”

“Amaya is an excellent role model for all students in our school,” says Jessica Fletcher, Greater Nanticoke Area Elementary Center principal. “She takes pride in all of her hard work and it shows in her words and actions daily. She demonstrates a responsible, safe, and caring Safety Patrol member and we are thankful for her service during her fifth-grade year.”

Over the past year, schools got creative when it came to operating their AAA Safety Patrol Program - some schools were virtual, some met in person and others operated in a hybrid setting. Whatever the setting, those schools that kept students engaged and maintained their school safety patrol group proved endurance and dedication are lessons instilled in students this year.  The leadership values and safety awareness have inspired many alumnus patrollers to pursue admirable careers, including current President Joe Biden.

“This school year continued to be a challenge for many AAA School Safety Patrols; advisors and patrollers have risen to the challenge of keeping students safe,” said Jana L. Tidwell, manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. “Their actions save lives. Patrollers serve as role models across the county.”

Over the last 100 years, interest in and excitement for the program have spread around the world. The AAA model has been adopted in at least 30 other countries, including England, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and New Zealand.  Since 1920, AAA provides various equipment and education materials to patrollers, including reflective belts, patrol badges and training resources. To learn how to bring the AAA School Safety Patrol to your school, email SchoolSafetyPatrol@national.aaa.com.

Other notable patrollers include former Presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, astronauts, governors, Members of Congress, Supreme Court justices, Olympic medalists, and authors, like Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney. Many patrollers now serve as educators, executives, and community leaders. 

AAA provides automotive, travel, and insurance services to more than 62 million members nationwide and more than three million members in Pennsylvania.  AAA advocates for the safety and mobility of its members and has been committed to outstanding road service for more than 100 years.  AAA is a non-stock, membership corporation working on behalf of motorists, who can map a route, access a COVID travel restriction map, find local gas prices and electric vehicle charging stations, discover discounts, book a hotel, and track their roadside assistance service with the AAA Mobile app (AAA.com/mobile) for iPhone, iPad and Android.  For more information on joining or renewing a Membership, visit www.AAA.com.