Submitted by East Central High School student Jacob Griffin

East Central student Evan Fette with speaker Sarah Panzau. submitted

(St. Leon, Ind.) - Sarah Panzau, a two-time member of the National Junior College Athletic Association women’s volleyball All-America team, knew what it was like to be on top of her game – and on top of the world.  But, somewhere between life as a competitively driven high school athlete and the early years of college, Panzau began heading down a destructive path.  

Aug. 23, 2003, was the day her life would change forever as her car spun out of control.  With a blood-alcohol level nearly four times the legal limit, the 21-year-old decided to drive home drunk, missed a highway exit and rolled her car four times.  

Panzau is now committed to speaking with students about how her life was forever changed because of the poor decisions she made.

“Sarah provided a powerful message that truly impacted my fellow classmates,” says Jake Griffin, Student at East Central High School.  “Not only did she discuss the importance of making good decisions, not to drink when underage and to never drive drunk, but she also explained the true value of family.”

Living Proof was sponsored by Anheuser-Busch wholesaler Craig Distributing Co., Inc. and was part of the company’s commitment to help prevent underage drinking and drunk driving.