NJM Insurance Group and Impact Teen Drivers Award $38,500 to Eight Ohio Schools
December 14, 2021Students created PSAs on the dangers of distracted driving.
WEST TRENTON, NJ — Students at six high schools and two universities in Ohio have won grants from NJM Insurance Group and teen driver safety non-profit, Impact Teen Drivers (ITD), for their PSA videos and social media campaigns in the Ohio Just Drive contest. The awards will go toward educational supplies and tuition assistance.
A nationally recognized insurer and teen driver safety advocate, NJM sponsors the Just Drive competition, in partnership with Impact Teen Drivers, to inspire a distraction-free driving culture. Students representing 14 Ohio schools created PSAs, and their schools participated in a social media campaign. A panel of qualified judges evaluated each campaign's concept, creativity, execution, and the effectiveness of the message.
"We congratulate all the participating schools, teachers, advisors, and students for helping to make roadways safer throughout the Buckeye State by addressing the leading cause of teen deaths: reckless and distracted driving," said Violet Marrero, NJM consumer safety director. "Together, we can continue to make lifesaving changes in attitudes and behaviors for Ohio drivers and passengers of this and future generations."
Social Media Campaign Winners: Marion L. Steele High School (Amherst) wins first place and $10,000 for their entry "MLS Wellness Just Drive Campaign." Second place and $5,000 is awarded to Berea-Midpark High School/Polaris Career Center (Middleburg Heights) for "What Can Be More Important than Your Future?" Third place and $2,500 is awarded to Trumbull Career and Technical Center, (Warren) for their campaign "Don't be an Eli, Just Drive."
PSA Middle School/High School Student Winners: Amareé Clark from North Senior High School wins first place and $5,000 for "Promises." Second place and $2,500 is awarded to Ryan Michael from Christian Academy Schools for "Distracted Driving and How to End It!" Third place and $1,000 is awarded to Alexa Goodrich from Marion L. Steel High School (Amherst) for "Troubles of Distracted Driving."
PSA Middle School/High School Online Vote Winners: : Kyra Wise from Jefferson Area High School wins first place and $2,000 for "Drive Safe Don't Get Creamed." Second place and $1,500 is awarded to Brandon Otto from Jefferson High School for "Just Drive PSA 2021." Third place and $500 is awarded to Ryan Michael from Christian Academy Schools for "Distracted Driving and How to End It!"
PSA College Student Winners: Maxwel Pace from The Ohio State University wins first place and $5,000 for "Just Drive PSA Video." Second place and $3,000 is awarded to Mikayla Wright from Bowling Green State University for "Just Don't Drive Distracted."
"The ITD team is proud to work with NJM in Ohio to help save lives and reduce injuries," said Kelly Browning, Ph.D., executive director of Impact Teen Drivers. "The Ohio Just Drive contest invites the young people to take an active role in the health and safety of Ohio drivers. We are grateful for NJM's generous support that allows us to provide our evidence-based programs to engage, educate, and empower Ohio teens and their influencers to make lifesaving decisions in the car."
For decades, car crashes have been the leading cause of death for young people, and, according to data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, more than 20,000 fatalities occurred on roadways between January and June of this year, up 18.4% since last year. Fatal car crashes take the lives of nearly 4,000 young people each year, but they are preventable. NJM and Impact Teen Drivers work with Ohio safety champions of all ages and backgrounds to encourage good decision-making for both drivers and passengers.
About NJM's Teen Driver Safety Program
NJM's Teen Driver Safety Programs are offered at no cost to high schools in Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. NJM's research-based programs empower parents and teens with the information and resources they need to build safe driving skills. The Programs have reached more than 205,000 parents and teens since their launch in 2013 and were recognized in 2016 by the National Safety Council for their demonstrated results in reducing behaviors among teens that lead to crashes. For more information about NJM's Teen Driver Safety Programs, or to schedule a program in your area please visit njm.com/teen-driver-safety.
About NJM Insurance Group
Founded in 1913, NJM is a regional property and casualty insurer with a national reputation for customer satisfaction. The Company offers auto, homeowners, renters, and umbrella coverage in Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. For more information, visit njm.com.