Edgar Snyder & Associates Announces Winners of 10th Annual "Words to Be Heard" Contest

PITTSBURGH—Edgar Snyder & Associates is pleased to announce the winners of the firm's 10th annual "Words to Be Heard" scholarship contest, which tasks graduating western Pennsylvania seniors with creating a presentation that would discourage their peers from dangerous driving behaviors.

Carrie Smith, who will graduate this year from Indiana Area Senior High School, won the grand prize and will receive a $10,000 college scholarship.

Smith, who ultimately wants to attend medical school to become a psychiatrist, plans to study biology at West Chester University in Pennsylvania in the fall. Her winning entry—an engaging board game that explored the dangers of both distracted driving and drinking and driving—wowed the independent panel of judges, and captured the first-place award.

The game, titled "On the Road," included a game board, game pieces, instructions, and challenges that involved correctly guessing the answers to questions about everything from texting-and-driving statistics to Pennsylvania's DUI laws.

Mehrnaz Tiv, a North Allegheny High School senior, won second place for a video that she created that personalized the dangers of underage drinking and driving. She plans to study dramatic writing at the New York University and will receive a $5,000 scholarship.

Zhiere J. Patmon, a senior at Washington High School won third-place for a heart-wrenching video he created about the dangers of distracted driving. He plans to study political science at Howard University in Washington, D.C., and will receive a $2,500 scholarship.

"The winners of our annual scholarship contest represent to me the best and the brightest students in western Pennsylvania," Attorney Edgar Snyder said. "Every year, I'm blown away by their ability to communicate the dangers of distracted and drunk driving to their peers in a way that's relatable and gets them to listen—which can sometimes be a challenge to the adults."

Edgar Snyder & Associates is a law firm representing injury victims and people with disabilities with offices in Altoona, Ebensburg, Erie, Johnstown, and Pittsburgh.