Trish Trent-Iaquinta, regional traffic safety champion at the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments and Drive Smart Colorado, earned recognition as the Colorado Outstanding Advocate of the Year from the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America.
“Trish has been a tireless champion for FCCLA across the local, district, and state levels,” said Sahvanna Mease, family and consumer sciences teacher at Calhan High School, who helped lead the nomination. “From organizing impactful traffic safety initiatives that earned state and national honors to hosting district-wide trainings and supporting students at the state conference, her dedication knows no bounds. Her creativity, generosity, and unwavering support make her an irreplaceable friend of FCCLA.”
Trent-Iaquinta’s work as resulted in the renewal of the Drive Smart Colorado High School Challenge in a mix of metro and rural schools. Students in the challenge engage in year-long peer-to-peer education through traffic safety expos and social media outreach. Students work on topics like the top risks for teen drivers and graduated driver licensing laws, and share information through social norming and continued messaging.
“Being in prevention education with teens is inspiring to see the amazing work the next generation of leaders are doing,” said Trent-Iaquinta. “I feel honored to be able to work with such amazing youth that are leading the change we need not only in making our roadways safer but in creating a community that truly cares for one another’s safety. This in itself is my ‘why.’ So to get an award from these amazing youth and their advisors was very humbling. I look forward to continuing to help build this safety culture with our incredible youth through collaborative programming that encompasses all areas of teen driving and the contributing factors. We have made great strides in a short time but have much work to be done.”
Trent-Iaquinta also coordinates closely with the Drive Smart Colorado Coalition, a group of community partners working together to strategize, problem-solve and collaborate on current traffic safety issues. She has coordinated a car seat safety check at UCHealth Park in September 2024, obtained certifications in car fit and child passenger safety, and works closely to support aging driver education.
“Trish has brought Drive Smart Colorado back to a place of leadership in the region for robust and respected traffic safety education, and is well deserving of this honor,” said John Henry, president of the Drive Smart Colorado Board of Directors. “Her energy and passion is unmatched is working to make our roads as safe as possible for drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians.”
Trent-Iaquinta’s work is funded through a grant program from the Highway Safety Office within the Office of Transportation Safety at the Colorado Department of Transportation.
About the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments
PPACG’s 16 local governments collaborate on issues that cross political boundaries and work together to reach solutions that benefit the entire Pikes Peak region. PPACG’s primary focus is regional planning in transportation, aging issues, military impact planning and air and water quality.
About Drive Smart Colorado
Drive Smart Colorado’s mission is to reduce the number of traffic crashes and deaths in Colorado by assisting communities in building partnerships and successful traffic safety campaigns and programs. The organization has a strong 30-year track record of enhancing traffic safety through educational campaigns to increase seat belt use, promote substance-free driving, impart positive behind-the-wheel behavior, boost motorcycle safety, enhance child passenger and pedestrian safety, and support safe teen driving.