For the fourth consecutive year, 911 Driving Schools is setting out to help a local high school student athlete achieve collegiate success in honor of a former Washington State Patrol Trooper, who also was an instructor for school. 

The Trooper Brett Thompson/911 Driving School Scholar Athlete Award was created by Joe Giammona, CEO of the Driver Training Group (parent company of 911 Driving Schools) along with Buck and Lisa Mierke of Kent 911 Driving School in memory of Trooper Brett Thompson.

Trooper Thompson, a 28-year veteran of the Washington State Patrol and instructor at the Kent 911 Driving School, passed away in December 2014 due to injuries sustained while helping a stranded motorist.

“Three years ago, we made a commitment to continue Trooper Thompson’s legacy by annually helping a MRHS student athlete pursue their collegiate goals,” Gammon said. “Brett committed his life to public service and to the education of high school students as a beloved instructor at the 911 Driving School in Kent. It’s an honor that we’re able to further his memory by supporting an outstanding student-athlete each year.”

The $1,000 scholarship is awarded annually to a senior member of the Mount Rainier High School football program.

Seniors are considered for the award based on a number of criteria, including academic excellence, community involvement, athletic ability and school leadership.

Victor Torres, a senior at Mount Rainier High School, was announced as this year’s scholarship at the football program’s annual awards banquet earlier this month.

“My life is based on academics, the community and athletics," Torres said. "Having a good education means that I will be successful in life, having money to be able to provide for my family. Community work is very important, and I have received much help in my life and I love to return the favor and make people feel the same way. Athletics is where I have built my respect for others, being able to become a responsible person and a leader to other. Knowing that you have teammates fighting for you till the very end is a feeling that is hard to acquire. My athletics have helped me grow mentally and become more physical.”

​​​​​​​“Year after year, we’ve seen an incredible pool of students who not only meet, but exceed the qualifications for the Trooper Brett Thompson/911 Driving School Scholar Athlete Award and who are true role models for other MRHS students,” Giammona said. “We’re excited to present this scholarship to Victor, as he exemplifies all of those traits and more, both on and off the field; we know that Trooper Thompson would be very proud of him and all of the candidates.”

In addition to the Trooper Brett Thompson/911 Driving School Scholar Athlete Award, the Driver Training Group also recently supported Mount Rainier High School’s football program with a $1150 donation to its Touchdowns Against Cancer campaign, which qualified the team for a 2nd Team All American Award.

For more information on 911 Driving Schools, visit https://911drivingschool.com.