The William Byrd Middle School Terrier Safety Squad was recognized at the Roanoke County
School Board meeting on Nov. 17 as the 2025 YOVASO (Youth of Virginia Speak Out About
Traffic Safety) Club of the Year. The club at WBMS is sponsored by Leslie Jordan and Sheriff’s
Deputy Joe Mullins. According to Principal Katie Hutchison, YOVASO Club members have set
the standard for excellence in youth traffic safety education.
Cave Spring High School and WBMS were among the top honorees at the annual YOVASO
Awards Banquet, held Saturday, July 19, at James Madison University in Harrisonburg.
The event celebrated 21 outstanding individuals and organizations across the Commonwealth for
their commitment to promoting youth traffic safety during the 2024-2025 school year.
The WBMS Terrier Safety Squad was honored with the coveted YOVASO Club of the Year
Award, recognizing the group’s exemplary student leadership, innovative programming, and
peer-to-peer education initiatives under the guidance of club sponsors Jordan and Mullins.
The award recognizes excellence in student leadership and club development, community
outreach, engagement of the student body, effectiveness of programming, and participation in
YOVASO projects and initiatives.
Year for 2025. Pictured are (from left): front, Vinton’s School Board representative Tim
Greenway, Principal Katie Hutchison, student Mariah Eubank, club sponsor Leslie Jordan,
Mariah Black, and Deputy Joe Mullins: back row, School Board representatives Brent Hudson,
Chair Shelley Clemons, and David Linden. (photos courtesy of RCPS)
In addition, Deputy Joseph P. Mullins, who serves as the resource officer at WBMS, received the
School Resource Officer of the Year Award for his consistent support and guidance to the
school’s traffic safety club.
Deputy Mullins emphasized that while he appreciates the honor, YOVASO is a student-led club,
whose members “put in a lot of effort in the YOVASO events.” Membership has grown to
25—the maximum allowed.
Established in 2001, YOVASO is a program of the Virginia State Police and is funded by a grant
from the Virginia DMV Highway Safety Office. The organization partners with schools and
youth groups statewide to promote safe driving habits and reduce crashes involving teens.
