Stuarts Draft Middle School student wins AAA certificate

From staff reports
Published: May 1, 2008

To combat the dangers of children and traffic as well as the perils and challenges facing new, teen drivers, AAA Mid-Atlantic held its 2007-08 Traffic Safety Poster Program.
Dylan Bozic of Stuarts Draft Middle School won a Certificate of Merit Award on the national level for the second year in a row. In addition, he won first prize on a local level, with a $100 award. This is the third year Dylan has participated in the contest, and every year his entry won an award on the local level.
“The contest offered students an opportunity to be creative, while reinforcing key messages that are critical to the safety of area youth,” said Martha M. Meade, manager of Public and Government Affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic.
Traffic crashes are the leading killer of children ages 3-14, according to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. AAA and AAA’s Mid-Atlantic Foundation for Safety and Education issue traffic safety messages throughout the year, most notably in its School’s Open, Drive Carefully campaign. Representatives from the foundation provide free presentations on biking, school bus and pedestrian safety in area schools year-round as well.
The national contest awarded 52 prizes totaling over $18,000 in Visa Gift Checks, including six grand awards, 16 first-place awards, 16 second-place awards and 16 third-place awards. In addition, certificates of merit were given out to fourth-place awards winners.
Posters were pre-judged at the club level (AAA is a Federation of clubs throughout North America and includes AAA Mid-Atlantic). Clubs then submitted their selections to the national office for final judging. Posters were evaluated according to the design’s relationship to the specific traffic safety concept, originality, how the idea is expressed in the design, artwork and execution, and visual impact.
Winning designs may be featured in AAA’s traffic safety education materials or promotions.
Any student in the United States and Canada enrolled in grades kindergarten through 12 at a public, private or parochial school, or who are affiliated with a national youth organization, was eligible to enter the contest.