Steering for safety
Michigan Auto Law offers scholarships to students who create anti-distracted driving media
To convince young drivers to reduce distractions while driving, Michigan Auto Law is offering $5,000 in scholarships to local high school students who create the best persuasive video, tweet or graphic.
The application deadline is March 31. Winners will be announced in April during National Distracted Driving Awareness month.
The annual Kelsey’s Law Distracted Driving Awareness Scholarship is named after Kelsey Raffaele of Sault Ste. Marie who died in a cell phone-related automobile crash at the age of 17 in 2010. Her mother, Bonnie Raffaele, worked with the Michigan legislature to enact Kelsey’s Law in 2013, which prohibits Level 1 and 2 drivers from using a handheld mobile phone while driving a vehicle.
“Distracted driving is a problem for all ages, but especially for our newest drivers,” said Michigan Auto Law President and Attorney Steven Gursten. “Teens play a crucial role in convincing their peers and others of the importance of putting down phones to save lives.”
Applicants must be:
• A high school junior or senior (class of 2020 and 2021) attending any public or private Michigan high school (finalists will need to provide proof of enrollment with a student I.D. or transcript)
• Michigan resident with a valid Michigan driver’s license
Applicants can submit either a YouTube video (30 seconds maximum), a graphic (PNG or JPG only) or a Tweet of 110 characters or less. To apply for the Kelsey’s Law Scholarship, visit michiganautolaw.com/ scholarships/kelseys-law.
The best overall submission wins a $2,000 scholarship, the best video submission wins $1,500, best graphic submission wins $1,000 and best tweet submission wins $500.
Students are limited to one type of submission. The awards will be applied toward tuition at any university, college or technical school in the United States.
For more information on Michigan Auto Law, visit www.michiganautolaw.com.