Third Annual Safety Scholars Video Contest Accepting Entries May 27-June 17Student producers of top videos win college scholarships, tires and PSA placements
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (May 18, 2009) — Equipped with a video camera and a creative vision, students across the country can enter the Safety Scholars video contest and have the opportunity to win a scholarship, see their video on TV and perhaps even save a life.
The third annual Safety Scholars Video Contest, presented by Bridgestone Americas, Inc., will begin accepting video entries on May 27th. The contest, part of Bridgestone America's ongoing commitment to driver safety education, is a great way for young drivers to create a compelling video to encourage their peers to make better decisions, drive safer and ultimately make our roads safer for everyone.
Students create short videos about auto safety or, new for this year, automotive environmentalism. The top ten videos as selected by the judging panel are posted on YouTube, My Space and Facebook so everyone can see the videos, then vote for their favorites at safetyscholars.com. The three student producers who earn the most votes for their video will each receive a $5,000 college scholarship, a set of Bridgestone brand tires and will have their videos aired as public service announcements (PSAs) on television stations nationwide. The videos are syndicated as PSAs in partnership with the Driver's Edge teen driving program which is sponsored by Bridgestone brand. To date, the PSA schedule for winning videos from the 2008 contest has resulted in 8,525 airings, with 52,546,202 audience impressions.
“Automotive safety education, particularly for young drivers, is a priority for us,” said Christine Karbowiak, Executive Vice President of Community and Corporate Relations, Bridgestone Americas, Inc. “Being environmentally responsible is also a critical focus of our company. The addition of the automotive environmentalism topic to this year's contest allows us to further extend the message of the Bridgestone Group's „One Team, One Planet' global environmental initiative.”
Previous winning videos have utilized first-person accounts, dramatic narratives and other creative formats, including stop-motion photography with Lego® figures, to deliver messages about the importance of being safe and distraction-free behind the wheel. With the addition of the eco-automotive topic, teens will also be able to share ideas about how a “green” approach to vehicle use and maintenance is good for everyone.
“Safety Scholars is a tremendously effective way for us to communicate our commitment to the youth market through a program that's for teens, by teens,” Karbowiak continued. “We're proud to encourage peer-to-peer dialogue about the environment and being safe behind the wheel.”
2008 Safety Scholars Facts:
- 2.4 million hits on contest site, safetyscholars.com,
- 103,220 video viewings on YouTube.
- 10,362 online votes tallied, and
- 620 videos entered.
2009 Contest Details:
- Videos must be 25 or 55 seconds in length.
- The first 300 entries will be accepted May 27 – June 17 at safetyscholars.com.
- A panel of judges will select 10 finalists based on the following criteria: how well the video compels viewers to be more safety- or eco-conscious when using or maintaining their vehicles, and how well the video effectively and creatively communicates its message.
- The 10 finalist videos will be posted on safetyscholars.com in addition to YouTube, MySpace and Facebook on June 25. The general public will then select grand prize winners through online voting at safetyscholars.com.
- Official rules with complete entry, eligibility and prize details are available on safetyscholars.com.
- Grand prize-winning videos will be announced July 23 at safetyscholars.com
In addition to Safety Scholars, Bridgestone Americas has invested in myriad innovative driving and tire safety education initiatives specifically targeting young drivers. The Bridgestone brand serves as presenting national sponsor of Driver's Edge, a hands-on safe driving course offered free of charge to teens in select U.S. cities. The recently launched Web site ThinkBeforeYouDrive.org unifies all of the company's consumer safety and education programs under a single banner to further reinforce the importance of smart driving. Additionally, Bridgestone Americas has aired a series of tire safety-related public service announcements featuring legendary racer and Firestone spokesman Mario Andretti. Andretti has also toured the country talking to students about automotive and tire safety, encouraging young drivers to learn their M.A.R.I.O's (Mario Andretti's Real Information on Safety).
Visit safetyscholars.com for more information about the 2009 contest.
About Bridgestone Americas, Inc.:
Nashville, Tenn.-based Bridgestone Americas, Inc. (BSAM) is the U.S. subsidiary of Bridgestone Corporation, the world’s largest tire and rubber company. BSAM and its subsidiaries develop, manufacture and market a wide range of Bridgestone, Firestone and associate brand tires to address the needs of a broad range of customers, including consumers, automotive and commercial vehicle original equipment manufacturers, and those in the agricultural, forestry and mining industries. The companies are also engaged in retreading operations throughout the Western Hemisphere and produce air springs, roofing materials, synthetic rubber and industrial fibers and textiles. The BSAM family of companies also operates the world’s largest chain of automotive tire and service centers.