Teen Tragedy Triggers Action

“Lauren was a typical teenage girl who loved life,” says Nancy Harris, the mother of 17-year old Lauren Harris, who died while driving to church on a Sunday morning nearly two years ago.

As a junior at Selinsgrove High School (Selinsgrove, Pa.), Lauren was a member of the soccer team, band and honors choir; she had a part-time job, was active in her church’s youth group and had a boyfriend.

But on a rainy Sunday morning the Harris family forever changed as Lauren lost control of her car, hit a tree and died instantly. What caused her to lose control is unknown.

After more than a year passed, Nancy felt comfortable talking openly about her daughter’s incident and spoke to Lauren’s classmates at an assembly prior to their graduation ceremony last May.

Nancy’s message focused on remembering how valuable life is and the importance of looking out for your friends.

“Watch out for each other and don’t be afraid to stand up to your friends,” she recalls telling the students. “You stand up for your friends for everything else, and something as important as getting behind the wheel of a car, driving without a seatbelt or being distracted is just not worth (the risk).”

Nancy encourages kids to speak up before it’s too late.

“Kids are afraid they’ll be laughed at if they stand up to their friends, but it’s a momentary thing and it passes,” she says. “Death is not a momentary thing. It happens, it’s done and that person is gone forever.”

Lauren Harris Memorial Scholarship

The Harris family has established the Lauren Harris Memorial Scholarship Fund with the goal of providing financial assistance to college-bound students. Special emphasis is given to two groups of students: special needs students and those pursuing music. Nancy says Lauren loved music and “had a heart” for helping special needs kids.

To help support the scholarship, the Selinsgrove Lookin’ Out club is planning a middle school dance in April. All of the proceeds will benefit the fund.

Last year, Selinsgrove students supported the scholarship by selling bracelets with the message “LMH: Love Mercy Hope,” which were Lauren’s initials.

Nancy plans to return to the school in May to speak to this year’s senior class at a mock crash assembly. As difficult as it is to talk about the loss her family experienced, Nancy knows she has a message that could benefit other families.

“Lauren is my inspiration for being able to talk about the incident,” she says. “No other family should have to go through what we went through.”

Listen to Nancy Harris talk about her daughter Lauren on the latest Lookin’ Out podcast.

Seventeen year-old Lauren Harris was described by her mother as a typical teenage girl who loved life.

Lookin’ Out Podcast Episode #6
Get the latest updates on the Lookin’ Out program and hear Nancy Harris talk about her daughter Lauren and the message she has for young drivers.