The significance of the day wasn’t lost on Aiden.
On a recent Saturday, the rising junior at Bellevue East High School walked out of a set of double doors into the sunlight holding a fresh sheet of paper: A simple black-and-white printout that would serve, temporarily, as his very first driver’s license.
For any teenager, it would be a big moment. But it likely held special meaning for Aiden, who hopes to eventually obtain his commercial driver’s license (CDL) and drive for a living.
“It’s kind of the open road,” he said about why he likes driving. “That freedom, I’d say.”
Aiden was one of 47 participants in Avenue Scholars’ recent DMV Day, held May 16 at the Driver License Examiners Office in Bellevue, Nebraska. Thanks to the generosity of the Nebraska Department of Motor Vehicles, for one Saturday in May, Scholars were able to visit the DMV to get their driver’s license, learner’s permit, or state ID.
And, with support from a grant from the AAA Auto Club Group (ACG) Foundation, Avenue Scholars was able to cover the costs.
Auto Club Group Foundation Supports New Drivers
The grant, which Avenue Scholars received in February, supported the filing costs for all Scholars seeking a permit, license, or state ID. For several Scholars, it also covered the cost of driver’s education classes.
“Transportation is truly a pillar of our program – being able to get yourself to and from work is crucial in the professional world,” said Lindsay Decker, CEO of Avenue Scholars. “We’re so grateful for community partners like the ACG Foundation who help us equip Scholars with the tools they need to be successful.”
The ACG Foundation is the second largest of AAA’s 32 clubs in North America. Its mission is to work on behalf of AAA member groups and the communities they serve to create lasting solutions and provide research and funding in the areas of traffic safety, tourism, education, and community service.
Where Will You Go?
That mission was on full display at Avenue Scholars’ DMV Day event, where Scholars filed in with their families to submit paperwork, complete written tests, and, for many, take a behind-the-wheel driving test with a DMV examiner.
Many arrived nervous but left relieved. They walked out of the DMV with plans – places to go and, now, a way to get there. Many talked about their first cars: for Aiden, a 2010 Dodge Avenger. For Emma, another Bellevue East student who left with her learner’s permit, a 2019 Nissan Altima.
Makaylah, a Scholar from Bellevue West High School, went home with her Provisional Operator’s Permit. It was an exciting moment for someone looking to pursue an automotive career.
“I want to be the mechanic that works inside the cars,” she said. “I helped my dad and my brother, when I was little, work on cars and stuff. So, it just kind of made me like cars.”
They all talked about where they would drive: to school, of course. To extracurriculars like wrestling and volleyball. To a part-time job if they had one. If not, to potential employers looking for applicants.
But at least one Scholar, Emma from Bellevue East, had a more specific place in mind when asked where she would go first.
“It’s probably going to be Dairy Queen to get ice cream,” she said.
