Haddam-Killingworth Students Place Second in Teen Safe Driving Contest

WINDSOR, CT – The ninth annual DMV-Travelers Teen Safe Driving Video Contest winners were awarded recently, with Weston High School taking first place for the second straight year.

Students crafted videos with the theme, "One Split Second...," according to a release. Highway safety advocates, state and other officials honored teens from across Connecticut on Thursday evening for their work to promote safe driving during the DMV-Travelers Teen Safe Driving Video Contest.

The second-place winner was Haddam-Killingworth High School, followed by East Lyme High School in third place.

"Each year we have a new influx of young and inexperienced drivers on the road, and the safety messages from this contest help raise awareness and remind these drivers, their parents and their communities about the importance of safe driving,” Governor Dannel P. Malloy said in a release. “I want congratulate and thank all the students and teams who participated.”

The Contest at a GlanceTravelers, the contest's co-sponsor, hosted the awards ceremony at its flagship Claim U facility in Windsor. Travelers increased from last year the monetary awards to schools by $1,000 for first, second and third places, and offered up to $24,000 in awards to the winning schools and their students, and also donated prizes and gifts to the students and high schools.

In addition in separate awards, Simsbury High School won the award for use of community members; East Lyme High School won the award for use of humor; Wheeler High School (North Stonington) won the award for use of music; and Woodland Regional High School (Beacon Falls) won the award for use of parental figure. Woodland Regional High School also won the DMV Teen Safe Driving Multi-Cultural Award and Weston High School won The DMV-Travelers Challenge for most views on YouTube among the top-three overall winners.

There were over 150 student-team submissions that involved a total of nearly 400 students statewide representing 37 high schools. Videos of the winners can be viewed on the DMV YouTube site.

Weston High School will receive $6,000 for first place and the winning student team will split $1,250 in Visa Gift cards; Haddam-Killingworth High School will receive $5,000 for second place and the winning student team will split $1,000 in Visa Gift cards; and East Lyme High School will receive $4,000 for third place and the winning student team will split $750 in Visa Gift cards.

Woodland Regional High School will receive $1,000 from the multi-cultural award sponsor, Yale-New Haven Children's Hospital and the winning student team from Weston High School will split $1,000 in Visa Gift cards from Travelers for garnering the most views on the DMV Teen Safe Driving YouTube Channel.

The Contest Theme: One Split Second…

The contest theme, "One Split Second…," was developed by a group of student advisors representing several Connecticut high schools. The advisors said this theme delivers a simple message and challenges other teens to craft a message that can influence others to drive more safely.

It only takes one second for teens behind the wheel or with friends to make a positive or negative decision related to driving. That decision can have lasting effects on one’s safety, future and life.

The contest challenged students to use the theme “One Split Second..,” to demonstrate a creative, unique and effective message related to making responsible and safe decisions about driving. To enter this year's DMV contest, high school students were asked to direct, shoot and edit public service announcement up to 45 seconds in length.

The DMV, Travelers and other safety advocates plan to use the videos submitted in a variety of outreach programs that it conducts as well as offer them to schools, businesses, government agencies, advocacy groups and other partners in teen safe driving.

The following are the top-prize ranking videos based on judges' review of overall impact, originality and cinematic style:

First place – Nathan Katz (student director), Michael Bogaev, Andrew Harwood and Alex McCall of Weston High School. (YouTube link: https://youtu.be/_MaZSnnqC_s)

Second place – Markus Trahan (student director), Aidan Korper, Rachel Senechal and Josh White of Haddam-Killingworth High School. (YouTube link: https://youtu.be/gz73xTJoB-Q)

Third place – Gregory Stewart (student director), Daniel Sackett and Yalley Sackett of East Lyme High School. (YouTube link: https://youtu.be/_7-4R5LQYcI)

Special Category Awards

Use of Community Members – Amira Elkeky (Student Director) and Sophie Cassano of Simsbury High School. (YouTube link: https://youtu.be/BdtYs5KR_UI)

Use of Humor - Gregory Stewart (student director), Daniel Sackett and Yalley Sackett of East Lyme High School. (YouTube link: https://youtu.be/_7-4R5LQYcI)

Use of Music - Michael Anderson (student director), Donny Davino, Evan Jones and Samantha Muller of Wheeler High School in North Stonington. (YouTube link: https://youtu.be/fBA-uH1nppM)

Use of Parental Figure - Katie Sirowich (student director) Ethan Carlone, Marko Gutierro, Brandon McCusker and Jack Setaro of Woodland Regional High School in Beacon Falls. (YouTube link: https://youtu.be/6QQInwPSFDE)

DMV Teen Safe Driving Multi-Cultural Award

Winner – Woodland Regional High School (Beacon Falls) – Alexandra Cianciolo (student director) and Amir Otajagic. (YouTube link: https://youtu.be/fNE7DjanW9M)

Participnts from Haddam-Killingworth included:

Markus Trahan (student director), Aidan Korper, Rachel Senechal and Josh White of Haddam-Killingworth High School.

Image via Shutterstock.