Technician of the Year
One opportunity. One moment. One life changed.
That’s how Ashleigh Traud’s journey as a Child Passenger Safety Technician began—helping a young mother correctly install an infant car seat while overcoming a communication barrier. Today, that same passion and dedication have led to her being named the National Child Passenger Safety Technician of the Year. The award is presented by the National Child Passenger Safety Board and sponsored by Toyota Motor North America.
Traud, a resident of New Albany, Ind., and an environmental health specialist at the Clark County Health Department, has made a remarkable impact in her community in a short time.
To learn more about Ashleigh and her rise to this national recognition, download this Technician of the Year press release.
Instructor of the Year
From time to time, Angel Giffin reflects on her role as a Child Passenger Safety Instructor and contemplates what it means to mold minds and shape hearts.
Giffin, a resident of rural Brush, Colo., finds joy in those moments.
“I recently worked with a gentleman and watched him throughout our Technician certification training class as he worked diligently to learn each concept and to identify ways to apply what he was learning in his community,” she said. “It reminded me of the importance of our outreach efforts. He speaks six languages and will be a huge asset in our state.”
Giffin has been an asset herself – for more than two decades. She first became a Child Passenger Safety Technician in September 2003 and later earned her credentials as an Instructor:
- In 2024 alone, she was the lead instructor for 11 Technician certification training courses with 132 participants
- Giffin teaches 10 classes each grant cycle and has trained more than 1,000 Technicians over the years
Her willingness to give the gift of knowledge is why she is saluted today as the National Child Passenger Safety Instructor of the Year. The award is presented by the National Child Passenger Safety Board and sponsored by Toyota Motor North America.
To learn more about Angel and her dedication to child passenger safety, download this Instructor of the Year press release.
Team of the Year
Despite being small in size, Amarillo Public Health’s child passenger safety team makes a Texas-sized impact promoting the wellbeing of mothers, infants and children in the Panhandle. Think big. How big?
During a typical month, the three safety advocates who drive Safe Kids/Healthy Amarillo Women work with constituents to serve an average of 40 families in Potter and Randall counties. In January, they marked a milestone by assisting with the installation of their 1,000th car seat – a feat accomplished since they first started tracking their work on Nov. 1, 2022. That’s about 40 car seats a month during a 25-month period.
The team is led by:
- Cindi Wynia, Program Manager
- Barbara Solano-Haile, Health Educator Planner
- Ashley Halsted, Safe Kids specialist
Their dedication to protecting young passengers and bringing peace of mind to caregivers on the go is one reason why Safe Kids/Healthy Amarillo Women is being recognized today as the National Child Passenger Safety Team of the Year. The award is presented by the National Child Passenger Safety Board and sponsored by Toyota Motor North America.
To learn more about Safe Kids/Healthy Amarillo Women, download this Team of the Year press release.
2025 National CPS Awards
Download and share: Here is the full list of 2025 CPS awards winners and nominees.
Sponsors
The 2025 National CPS Awards are presented by the National Child Passenger Safety Board and sponsored by Toyota Motor North America. For more information about Toyota, visit https://www.toyota.com/usa/