(June 10, 2001) -- Every 15 Minutes, someone in the United States is killed or seriously injured in an alcoholic related incident…

On May 4, 2000, Clark Magnet High School students watched as 15 of their peers carried a coffin to the front of the amphitheater.  Little did students know that they were about to watch an inspiring performance called “Every 15 Minutes,” a program designed to increase awareness and hopefully discourage teenagers to drink and drive.  Teacher Randy Tiffany had planned Every 15 Minutes for almost a year with the support of various organizations, clubs and associations.

Fifteen seniors signed up to volunteer in community service, unaware that they were participating in Every 15 Minutes.  These 15 participants joined this program blindly, but came out aware of the sad truth regarding drunk driving.  They played a realistic scene of a car accident caused by drunk driving.  Every student of Clark Magnet High School watched as police and firemen came to the rescue.  There was a crushed minivan with injured passengers inside and a hit pedestrian.

After playing a scene of the car accident, students spent a night at the Glendale Hilton Hotel, where they met Christine Eltz from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), who, along with teacher Randy Tiffany, told touching stories related to drunk driving.  “We listened to speakers tell first hand of what they had to go through after drunk driving incidents with people close to them.  Later we put situations into perspective and juxtaposed the situations hypothetically and realistically,” said senior Joseph Yeon.

Students also wrote letters to their parents as if they were already dead from drunk driving.
After spending their time at the Glendale Hilton, all the participants came to school the next day, eager to help their fellow classmates feel what they had experienced the night before.
As students gathered in the amphitheater, the participants walked onstage carrying a coffin and sat in front of the amphitheater.

“Every 15 Minutes was a very valuable experience for the students because it brought the reality of drinking and driving to life.  Although the blood and guts were all simulated, the emotion was as real as the tears in the observing students eyes,” said teacher Julie Ann Melville.

The parents of the participants took their time to join the assembly. There was a sudden stillness in the audience as the first student speaker, Joseph Koo (former Clark student), came up and read his letter to his parents.  One by one, students came onstage and read their letters to their parents.  “I think it affected the participants more than it did us because it was a shock to them and everything felt realistic,” said senior Michael Keshishian.