NJM Sponsors Champion Schools Program; Contributes Driving Simulators to Winning Schools

May 29, 2013

WEST TRENTON, NJ — New Jersey Manufacturers Insurance Company (NJM), the largest insurer of private passenger vehicles in the state, is pleased to help sponsor the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey's Champion Schools Program, in which teens from 55 New Jersey high schools have developed creative projects to encourage safe driving among their peers.

As the founding sponsor, this is the third year that NJM has agreed to donate full-cab model driving simulators to two grand-prize winning schools.

The projects will be displayed, and the winning schools will be announced, at the Brain Injury Alliance's annual "U Got Brains" event, held at 11 a.m. on June 7, at iPlay America in Freehold Township. Lindsey Giannini, Miss Atlantic County, who has established a platform to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving, will serve as mistress of ceremonies. In addition to announcing the grand-prize winners, NJM plans to make a special safety-related announcement in honor of its 100th anniversary which takes place that same day.

A list of participating schools follows.

NJM is celebrating the 100th anniversary of its founding as an insurer focused on preventing workplace injuries, and sponsorship of the Champion Schools Program is part of NJM's ongoing support of safety efforts for New Jersey drivers, passengers and pedestrians, according to Bernie Flynn, NJM's President and Chief Executive Officer.

"Statistics show that young drivers and their passengers are the most at risk to suffer fatal or permanently debilitating injuries on the roadways," Flynn said. "As part of a comprehensive driver training program, these simulators provide valuable experience with a variety of driving challenges so these young people can develop safe driving habits that can last a lifetime."

Founded in 1913, NJM is the largest provider of Personal Automobile and Workers' Compensation insurance in New Jersey and a major carrier for Homeowners and Commercial Auto coverage. For Commercial Lines insurance, a company must be a member of the New Jersey Business & Industry Association to apply, and Personal Lines applicants also must meet membership and qualifying criteria.

Champion Schools Program participants by county

Atlantic: Hammonton High School; Mainland Regional High School, Linwood; Oakcrest High School, Mays Landing; St. Joseph's High School, Hammonton

Bergen: Bergen County Tech High School, Paramus; Bogota High School; Emerson Jr. Sr. High School

Burlington: Bordentown Regional High School; Delran High School, Mount Laurel; Lenape Regional High School District, Medford; Maple Shade High School

Camden: Collingswood High School; Haddonfield Memorial High School; Overbrook High School, Sewell

Cape May: Middle Township High School, Cape May Courthouse

Cumberland: Cumberland Regional High School, Bridgeton; Memorial High School, Millville; Vineland High School

Essex: Arts High School, Newark; Barringer High School, Newark; Belleville High School; Bloomfield High School; Cedar Grove High School; Columbia High School, Maplewood; Essex County Vo-Tech, Newark; Millburn High School; Montclair High School; Nutley High School; Rae Kushner Yeshiva High School, Livingston; West Orange High School

Gloucester: Woodbury High School

Hudson: Kearny High School

Mercer: Princeton High School; Trenton High School West; Villa Victoria Academy, Ewing

Middlesex: Colonia High School Dunellen High School Edison High School Middlesex County Academy for Science, Math, and Engineering Technologies, Edison St. Joseph's High School, Metuchen Old Bridge High School

Monmouth: Communications High School, Wall; Freehold Regional High School District, Englishtown; Freehold Township High School; Howell High School; Manalapan High School; Marlboro High School; Monmouth Regional High School, Tinton Falls

Morris: Kinnelon High School; Morris Rugby, Montville/Morris Knolls High School, Rockaway (entering as one team); Pequannock Township High School, Pompton Plains

Ocean: MATES (the marine academy of Ocean County Vo Tech), Manahawkin

Passaic: Passaic County Technical Institute, Wayne

Union: Hillside High School; Scotch Plains/Fanwood High School