High School Students Receive Recognition
JEFFERSON CITY – High School students from around the state were in Jefferson City on December 13, to receive recognition for public service announcements they created to encourage their peers to buckle up. Fifteen entries received recognition in the Restrain Yourself contest in one of the following categories: grand prize, first place, second place, honorable mention and special recognition.
Restrain Yourself challenged high school students across the state to use their creativity to develop an original 30-second public service announcement that convinces their peers to buckle up every time they are in a vehicle.
“This is an exciting program,” says Leanna Depue, director of highway safety for the Missouri Department of Transportation. “The young men and women involved in this campaign are leaders in their communities. They can make a difference among their peers and save lives.”
The contest was prompted by the alarming results of a recent teen safety belt survey, which found safety belt use among Missouri teens is an alarming 56 percent. This usage rate is dramatically lower than Missouri’s overall safety belt usage rate of 77 percent.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, motor vehicle deaths are the leading cause of death for people 15 to 20 years of age.
A total of 399 students participated in the contest submitting 139 PSAs with the support of 44 teachers, coordinators and principals around the state.
Sponsors for the contest include the Missouri Department of Transportation, Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety, Missouri State Medical Association, Missouri Safety Council, and State Farm Insurance.
“We are proud to be a sponsor of the Restrain Yourself contest,” said Curt Dreier, vice president of agency for State Farm Insurance Companies. “State Farm has a long tradition of proactively educating youthful drivers on the importance of wearing seat belts.”
To view the three top entries, please visit MoDOT’s Web site at www.modot.org.
Students and schools receiving awards are listed below by category. Cash prizes were made available through a grant with State Farm Insurance.
Grand Prize ~
(School received a trophy and check for $1,000 and students received a certificate of recognition and $2,000)
Sikeston Career & Technology Center
(Students: Rachel Beydler, Michael Sansagraw)
First Place ~
(School received a trophy and check for $250 and students received a certificate of recognition and $1,000)
Morgan County High School
(Students: Alaina Graber, Layce Cable, Amanda Allen, Kaylyn Steinkis)
Second Place ~
(School received a trophy and check for $250 and students received a certificate of recognition and $500)
Lee’s Summit West High School
(Students: Zach Hartnett, Michael Admire)
Honorable Mention ~
(School received a trophy and each student received a certificate of recognition)
Lee’s Summit West High School
(Students: Christine Welsh & Megan Lyman)
Timberland High School
(Student: Kylie Handyside)
Special Recognition ~
(School received a trophy and each student received a certificate of recognition)
Oran High School
(Students: Monica Scherer, Wendy Eftink, Erica Michelsen)
Scott City High School
(Students: Michael Irey, Jola Skubis, Jonnie Blankenship, Louie Benson, Garrett Mills)
Oran High School
(Students: Robert Lange, Cody Kirnberger, Caleb Seyer)
Morgan County High School
(Students: Peter Corado, Patrick Wood, Rachel Bierman)
Stoutland High School
(Students: Sean Smith, Michael Henson, Chad Vaughan, Summer Kinsley, John Maddux, Michael Steele)
Sikeston High School
(Student: Nick Nielsen)
Seckman High School
(Student: Ryan Suter)
Seneca High School
(Students: Jessica Van Slyke, Shakira Rhoads)
Seneca High School
(Students: Kaleb Gilbert, Dakota Woods, Zach Austin)
Scotland High School
(Students: Pejaye Brown, Kelly Cochenour, Anna Buckallew, Jayson Brush, Laura Duley, Deidre Blaine, Beau Becraft, Kim Armstrong, Jessica Humes, Brandon Alexander, Sharail Barton, Julie Triplett, Lynnette Green, Jalisa Gray, Cody Ward, Megan Westhoff, Karra Small, Monica Schmitz, Kolby Peterson, Brandi Kapfer, Keith Johnson, Jack Lacey, Riley Watkins)
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Editor’s note: For print-quality stills from the winning PSAs, as well as additional background information, please visit MoDOT’s newsroom at www.modot.org/newsroom.
