Two student crossing guards from Superior are preparing for a trip to the nation's Capital.
Derrick Mattson and Keelan Golat will journey to Washington D.C. from April 24 to April 29 for a leadership conference with other youth safety patrol members from Wisconsin.
"They're going to get awards at the Capitol, join other crossing guards from across the state to celebrate the work they do for their schools," said Dustin Anderson, a title I teacher at Cooper Elementary School who nominated the boys for the trip. The 11-year-olds will also tour much of the area, including Gettysburg and Arlington National Cemetery.
Derrick said he's looking forward to seeing the White House, Pentagon and the many historic sites.
"I want to see all that history stuff," he said.
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His friend couldn't decide which part of the trip he was looking forward to the most.
"The whole thing will be fun," Keelan said.
It's been about 10 years since Cooper School sent students to the national safety patrol leadership event, sponsored by Wisconsin Safety Patrols Inc.
Superior School District Administrator Janna Stevens said the trip should be a great experience.
"I think it is fantastic that two of our students will have this opportunity to broaden their horizons and knowledge," she said.
Fellow students will rally around Keelan and Derrick on March 15. They will serve a buffet-style pulled pork dinner to help cover a portion of the trip's cost, which comes to $400 per child. Admission to the dinner is $6 for adults, $3 for students. Face painting will be available and fifth-graders will serve as wait staff, hosts and hostesses.
"We hope the general public will support the boys," Anderson said.
Derrick and Keelan are great role models at Cooper, he said. Students said the 11-year-olds do a good job on the safety patrol.
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"They're always out there," said fifth-grader Taylor Burger.
Cooper has a roster of about 25 student crossing guards, so they rotate.
"We're out there probably every two weeks," Derrick said. He and Keelan are tasked with watching the main entrance -- making sure only staff cars go into the parking lot and helping students cross Missouri Avenue.
"Where we're at, the most action is there," Keelan said.
The two crossing guards stick out, Anderson said, because they show initiative and take the job to heart. Both have been known to step in if someone's sick. And they aren't afraid to voice their concerns to adults or talk to parent drivers.
"We count on our students to be role models for safety when crossing streets," Stevens said. "In addition, they provide the elementary schools with information on areas to improve safety. Their work should be recognized because they are going above and beyond to keep their classmates safe."
This is Derrick's second year as a crossing guard. He said he joined "just to help the community." He was also prompted by his older brother's example. Both Derrick and his brother have served as captains of the Cooper crossing guards.
"I thought it would be fun and interesting," Keelan said, so he joined the group this year.
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The 11-year-olds offered some safety tips to the public.
"Watch for crossing guards crossing kids," Derrick said to drivers. "And don't go too fast."
Kids should cross where there is a crossing guard, Keelan said, and not walk in the street.
