National Contest Awards Student Artists Over $10,000 For Their Peer-to-Peer Safe Driving Messages
San Mateo, CA, December 15, 2020— Student artists across the country have won over $10,000 in educational grants through the 2020 Fall Create Real Impact Contest, sponsored by Impact Teen Drivers and California Casualty.
The Create Real Impact Contest gives enrolled students, ages 14 to 22, the opportunity to win prizes for their original works (creative writing, video, graphic design, or music) showcasing creative solutions for preventing the #1 killer of their peers –reckless and distracted driving.
Prizes are awarded by a panel of qualified judges based on the following weighted criteria: 25% concept/creativity; 25% execution of the idea; 50% effectiveness of the message emphasizing solution(s).
The following students will receive $1,500 grand prize educational grants for their entries:
- Jessie M., Sunbury, PA, in the music category for the work titled, “Some Things Change”
- Andre M., Halethorpe, MD, in the video category for “Don’t Drop the Ball”
- Erika A., Honolulu, HI, in the creative writing category for “A reverse poem of the preventable killer of teens – distracted driving”
- Mayumi D., Las Vegas, NV, in the graphic design category for the piece “No Distraction is Worth Risking Your Life
Guohang (Henry) Z. , Rowland Heights, CA, received $500 as first runner up for his video, “JUST DRIVE! (it's free!)”
These students won for their works in Spanish:
- Fiorella M., Doral, FL, in the Spanish language category for the video “Create Real Impact- Como Prevenir Manejar con Distracciones” – a Judges Pick, receiving $1,000
- Alejandra B. Cheyenne, WY, for “Vale la pena?” – Honorable Mention Spanish Graphic Design, receiving $250
- Belen T., Salinas, CA, for “Informacion Para Padres De Conductores Adolecente” – Honorable Mention Spanish Video, receiving $500
The following students received recognition for sharing their submitted works with the most friends and family. Each received $500 in grant funds:
- Maxwell R., Boston, MA, in the music category for “I Don’t”
- Gaby G., Bergenfield, NJ, in the video category for “Choose Today to Have a Tomorrow”
- Annaka T., Lemoore, CA, in the creative writing category for the piece “Anything can happen in a matter of a second”
- Alec B., Aptos, CA, for a graphic design submission titled, “It’s the mindset”
All entries can be seen by visiting the Create Real Impact homepage at https://createrealimpact.com/.
“I have confidence teens can change the culture of driving to one that is distraction free – much like earlier generations did with seat belts,” said Kelly Browning, Ph.D., Executive Director, Impact Teen Drivers. “The Create Real Impact Contest provides an opportunity for teens to join the conversation and do something about the problem.
Impact Teen Drivers has reached more than two million teens since 2007 and the Create Real Impact contest began in 2009. California Casualty is a founding partner of the nonprofit and continues to provide support for the contest.
“The importance of this contest can’t be overstated,” said California Casualty Chairman Beau Brown. “While insurance can replace a mangled vehicle, we can’t replace a teenager’s life. In a split second, everything for that family changes forever; it’s a terrible tragedy that no one should endure.”
The 2021 Create Real Impact contest will kick off in January. Entries will be taken at www.createrealimpact.com. For more information on how to get schools and students involved, please contact info@impactteendrivers.org.
About Impact Teen Drivers (ITD)
Impact Teen Drivers was founded in mid-2007 by the California Association of Highway Patrolmen, California Casualty, and the California Teachers Association. The organization has emerged as a leading non-profit organization dedicated to reversing the pervasive yet 100% preventable crisis of teens killed in car crashes. ITD’s mission is to develop, promote, and facilitate evidence-based education and strategies to save lives and reduce injuries and fatalities caused by reckless and distracted driving. To learn more visit www.ImpactTeenDrivers.org or send an email to info@impactteendrivers.org
About California Casualty
Founded in 1914 and headquartered in San Mateo, California, with Service Centers in Arizona, Colorado and Kansas, California Casualty provides auto and home insurance to educators, firefighters, law enforcement, nurses and United MileagePlus members across the country. To learn more about California Casualty, or to request an auto insurance quote, please visit www.calcas.com or call 1.800.800.9410.
