Description:
Bridgestone Americas (BSA) announced the launch of its fourth
annual Safety Scholars Video Contest at the Chicago Auto Show. The
company based its decision to continue the contest on both the
remarkable success of the program and the company’s ongoing commitment
to driver safety education for teens.
The contest, part of BSA’s overall teen safety initiatives, offers a
unique opportunity to engage young drivers in the process of educating
others about how to stay safe behind the wheel, both as a driver and a
passenger. Entrants create a short video that addresses the topic of
automotive safety to encourage their peers to make better decisions —
and ultimately make the roads safer for everyone.
In addition to receiving a $5,000 college scholarship and a free set
of tires, each Safety Scholars winner has the chance to have his or
her video used as a public service announcement (PSA) on television
stations across the country. In 2009, Safety Scholars videos that were
included in this PSA campaign aired more than 9,500 times, resulting
in more than 61 million audience impressions.
“The talent of these student video producers is truly extraordinary,
and we’re gratified that so many television stations across the United
States have agreed to air their videos as public service
announcements,” said Dan MacDonald, Executive Director,
Communications, BSA. “The program empowers students to make a
difference by using their talents to educate their peers about
important driver safety issues such as the danger of texting and
driving, not using a seat belt, and drinking and driving.”
The 2009 Safety Scholars winners were invited to the Chicago Auto Show
to present their videos to a group of automotive journalists and
enthusiasts from around the country. Christopher Baugh, Eric Dachman,
Daniel Erb, Juliana Hinojosa and Zach King utilized personal
testimonies, dramatic narratives, humor and other creative formats to
deliver powerful messages about auto safety.
“Safety education is a priority for us,” said Christine Karbowiak,
Executive Vice President, Community and Corporate Relations, BSA. “Car
crashes claim the lives of more 16- to 21-year-olds than any other
cause. As a company, we want to do whatever we can to change that
frightening statistic. We’re proud of our comprehensive program of
teen safe driving initiatives, and Safety Scholars is a key part of
it.”
Contest Details:
- Videos must be 25 or 55 seconds in length.
- Entrants can now submit their videos through July 1 at
safetyscholars.com.
- A panel of judges will select 10 finalists based on the following
criteria: how well the video compels viewers to be more
safety-conscious when using their vehicles, and how well the video
effectively and creatively communicates its message.
- The 10 finalist videos will be posted on safetyscholars.com in
addition to YouTube, MySpace and Facebook on July 15. The general
public will then select grand prize winners through online voting at
safetyscholars.com.
Applicable Majors:
All Fields of Study Website
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