2024 Recipient
Kathy Cooper
Kathy Cooper has spent nearly 25 years tirelessly working to save lives on Minnesota roads. Kathy’s dedication to traffic safety stems from the tragic death of her 15-year-old daughter, Meghan, who was an unbelted passenger killed in an impaired-driver crash on June 9, 1999. Kathy was a pivotal force in Minnesota’s battle to reduce unbelted fatalities. She spent countless hours working side-by-side with researchers, traffic safety professionals, and law enforcement representatives and meeting with legislators at the capitol, advocating for and assisting with efforts to institute the primary seat belt law—which took effect on June 9, 2009, in honor of Meghan.
Kathy has a passion for traffic safety because of her daughter’s story, but she also cares about her community and the people who live there. She helped establish the Rice County TZD Safe Roads Coalition as well as Rice County’s JOYRIDE sober cab program. She also assists with coordinating mock crashes, impact speakers, and safety fairs at area high schools and has partnered with law enforcement to coordinate and host traffic safety education efforts at the Rice County Fair.
Past Recipients
2023
- Holly Kostrzewski
2022
- Kristi Sebastian
2021
- Colonel Matt Langer
2020
- Howard Preston
2019
- Lieutenant Don Marose, Minnesota State Patrol
- Joel Watne
2018
- Mark Peterson, AAA
2017
- Judge James Dehn
2016
- Sue Porter, Minnesota Department of Transportation
2015
- Nancy Johnson, Minnesotans for Safe Driving
2014
- Max Donath, Director, Roadway Safety Institute, and Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota
2013
- Nelrae Succio, Minnesota Department of Transportation
- Jean Ryan, Minnesota Department of Public Safety
2012
- Major Mike Asleson, Minnesota State Patrol
2011
- Bob O'Brien, Department of Public Safety
- Brad Kollman, Department of Public Safety
2010
- Sharon Gehrman-Driscoll, Minnesotans for Safe Driving
2009
- Anne Beers, Minnesota State Patrol (retired)
- Carol Bufton, Minnesota Safety Council
2008
- Bernie Arseneau, MnDOT