Area students can earn dollars for school events in contest

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Video PSAs provide important safety message

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Education | Funding 

PARIS – High School seniors in the nine-county Paris District of Texas Department of Transportation can earn some extra dollars for their Project Celebration events by participating in a fun video contest that highlights safe driving.

Students work in teams to write, shoot and produce a short video Public Service Announcement (PSA) that emphasizes the dangers teen drivers sometimes face, such as distracted driving, speeding, not wearing seat belts or driving under the influence. In doing so, they earn a mini-grant from TxDOT to spend on their celebrations.

“The first-place team in our area contest will win $1,500, the second-place team will win $1,250, and the third-place team will win $1,000 for their events,” said Monica Yates, TxDOT Traffic safety specialist based in Paris. “Teams who participate but don’t place will be awarded $600. We also have mini-grants available for schools that need help funding their Project Celebration events but don’t want to participate in the PSA contest.”

Project Celebration events are conducted by educators, parents and community partners to help keep students safe and alcohol-free throughout the school year, especially during school-related celebrations. The activities provide students with ongoing education on the dangers of impaired driving with concentrated education scheduled around events such as spring break, prom or graduation.

The rules of the PSA contest are available online, and contest entries are due in early March, Yates said.

Those who want to learn more about Project Celebration and the video PSA contest should contact Yates at 903-737-9292 or Monica.Yates@txdot.gov. More information on Project Celebration is available online at www. txdot.gov, keywords Project Celebration.