Teenage Journalists Write to Change Peer Attitudes Behind the Wheel

(3BL Media) Northbrook, IL  - June 12, 2012 – Six high school journalists were selected from over 150 entries from around the country as winners of the national Keep the Drive High School Journalism Awards to educate their peers on the value of Graduated Driver Licensing laws, earning prizes totaling $7,500. The Keep the Drive High School Journalism Awards, sponsored by The Allstate Foundation, is an annual creative writing and journalism competition that encourages teens to address the number one killer of teens in the U.S. – motor vehicle crashes. 

Students were challenged to either write an article and have it published in the school newspaper, or write and produce a news segment and air it for the entire student body to view. Winners were selected with the help of Quill and Scroll, the International Honorary Society for High School Journalists.

The winners of the 2012 Keep the Drive High School Journalism Awards are:

Broadcast winners

1^st Place ($2,000 prize)–Christina Desalvo, Francis Howell North High School, St. Charles, Missouri

2^nd Place ($1,000 prize) – Agnieszka Zawadzka, Breman High School, Midlothian, Illinois

3^rd Place ($750 prize) – Danielle Bixler-Robinson, Franklin Heights High School, Columbus, Ohio

Print winners

1^st Place ($2,000 prize) – Joshua Gordon, Chantilly High School, Chantilly, Virginia

2^nd Place ($1,000 prize) – Stephanie Euler, West York Area High School, York, Pennsylvania

3^rd Place ($750 prize) – Jason Frost, Sparkman High School, Harvest, Alabama              

“Programs like The Allstate Foundation High School Journalism Awards help educate teens on the value and importance of teen safe driving,” said Vicky Dinges, vice president for public social responsibility at Allstate. “We know that when teens share this message with their peers it can have a resounding effect and change behavior.  At the end of the day, we believe teens want to be safe drivers and don’t want to risk losing a lifetime of memories with their friends and family due to an avoidable car crash.”

The Allstate Foundation’s website, www.keepthedrive.com, offers a variety of resources for teens to learn more about the issue and interact with one another to raise awareness about smart driving.

Here are five ways everyone can be safer behind the wheel:

1. Wear a seat belt all the time.
2. Drive the speed limit.
3. Limit the number of passengers in your car.
4. Pull over to make a call or text a friend.
5. Never drive after drinking alcohol.

About The Allstate Foundation

Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent, charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL). Through partnerships with nonprofit organizations across the country, The Allstate Foundation brings the relationships, reputation and resources of Allstate to support innovative and lasting solutions that enhance people’s well-being and prosperity. With a focus on teen safe driving and building financial independence for domestic violence survivors, The Allstate Foundation also promotes safe and vital communities; tolerance, inclusion, and diversity; and economic empowerment. For more information, visit www.AllstateFoundation.org.