Tuscarawas County Safe Communities is announcing the winners of a recent billboard contest designed to remind young drivers to be safe behind the wheel.
“Motor vehicle crashes are the number one cause of death of teens ages 15 to 19,” explained Kelly Snyder, Safe Communities Coordinator. “Hopefully the billboards will bring awareness to the dangers of distracted driving.”
Buckeye Career Center’s (Strasburg High School) Mackenzie Petrie and Garaway High School’s Kyle Dunne & Cordell Shetler were recently recognized for designing the winning entries for a Safe Driving Billboard contest sponsored by State Farm Insurance and Safe Communities of Tuscarawas County.
The contest challenged local high school students to create a public service announcement billboard to educate drivers about the dangers of distracted driving. Students were encouraged to create their own billboard artwork using whatever media they were most comfortable with, including graphic design, drawing, painting, photography etc.
A panel of judges from the Tuscarawas County Safe Communities Coalition selected the winning entries based on creativity, originality, and how well the importance of not driving distracted was communicated.
The students received $250.00 per winning entry, while their respective schools received $250.00 as well. The prize money was donated by Lisa Hoy and Lindsey Adam of State Farm Insurance. The respective schools will also receive banners of the winning entries.
The billboard displays were funded through a $2,000 State Farm Safe Driving Grant awarded to the Safe Communities Program at the Tuscarawas County Health Department.
The winning billboards will be on display on East High Avenue in New Philadelphia near Buckeye Career Center and on Route 39 in Dover close to the route 516 entrance.
Michaela Madison Reporting
