KENNESAW, Ga. | December 17, 2024

For the 18th consecutive year, Kennesaw State University’s Department of Health Promotion and Wellness has received one Governor’s Office of Highway Safety (GOHS) grants to participate in Georgia’s program for young adults (GYAP).

GYAP uses strategies such as peer education, provides educational speakers to schools, and encourages schools to develop creative, innovative techniques to reduce young adult crashes, injuries, and deaths in their communities.

“Part of the GOHS mission is to assist in the implementation of programs and campaigns designed to prevent crashes and eliminate traffic fatalities on our roadways,” said Allen Poole, director of the agency. “GOHS will continue to develop new partnerships and continue with existing ones to create, refine and implement safety programs designed to help our state and nation reach our goal of zero traffic fatalities.”

The GYAP program at Kennesaw State coordinates events and programming such as National Collegiate Alcohol Awareness Week, Fall Festival and Safe Spring Break.

Grant funds:

• Peer Health Outreach and Wellness Leaders (OWLs) to attend the 2025 NASPA Peer Educator Conference;
• The creation of a campaign using Kennesaw State University’s 2024 American College Health Association’s National College Health Assessment III data to promote healthy and responsible choices regarding alcohol use and traffic safety issues among students;
• Purchasing social media outreach ads for Safe Spring Break, Fall Festival, seat belt survey results, Wellness on Wheels: Alcohol Awareness, Holiday Drinking and Driving and other GOHS impaired driving campaigns; and
• A student assistant who assists with program planning, implementation and evaluation, design of social media messages, collection of highway safety statistics, and other related activities as needed.

The grant amount is $31,579.44 and includes federal funds from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The grant period covers 1 October 2024 to 30 September 2025.

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Kennesaw State University is a leader in innovative teaching and learning, offering undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit attract students from across the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-Designated Graduate Research Institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 7 percent of US colleges and universities with R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.