Winning video/billboard/radio PSAs for 2023 debut on digital billboard in Times Square

Richmond, Va. (June 30, 2023) – Project Yellow Light, in partnership with Elephant Insurance, the Ad Council and other sponsors, announced the winners of its 12th annual Hunter Garner Scholarship competition, in which students create video, radio and billboard Public Service Announcements (PSAs) to educate peers about the dangers of distracted driving and, specifically, the dangers of driving when using a mobile device. The winning PSAs will be showcased from 3-4pm (EST) on a digital billboard in New York City’s Times Square in space donated by Clear Channel Outdoor.

This marks the fifth year that Elephant has sponsored Project Yellow Light by contributing financially toward scholarships that the winners receive, along with serving on the panel of judges.

The Project Yellow Light/Hunter Garner Scholarship competition became a national contest in 2011, following several years as a more localized program established in 2007 by the family of Hunter Garner, who died in a car crash at age 16. “Thanks to sponsors like Elephant, the Ad Council, iHeartRadio and Clear Channel, the competition continues to grow each year, and the judges were so impressed with the high quality of the entries in 2023,” said Julie Garner, Founder of Project Yellow Light. “Congratulations to the winners for creating such powerful, heartfelt messages that help change attitudes and affect positive change regarding the very real dangers of distracted driving.”

“Project Yellow Light and the Hunter Garner Scholarship competition align with our mission of educating teens and adults on safe driving habits,” said Elephant Insurance CEO Alberto Schiavon. “It is a privilege to partner with and support such a meaningful program that shines a much-needed spotlight on the consequences of distracted driving and ultimately makes the roads safer for everyone. Our team at Elephant congratulates all the talented winners for their amazing submissions that could save the lives of their peers.”

For over 10 years, Project Yellow Light and the Ad Council have collaborated to place the winning student PSAs on 1,800 TV stations, iHeartMedia radio stations, and Clear Channel Outdoor’s more than 1,700 digital displays across the U.S.

The 2023 contest received more than 2,600 submissions, a 37% increase over the nearly 1,900 entries in 2022. Entries came from students representing all 50 states and Washington, D.C. This year’s scholarship prizes were awarded to:

  • A Dinosaur’s Distraction (video, high school): Madison Salee (Wylie, TX)
  • Self-Care (video, college): Zoë Taylor (Overland Park, KS), Rachel Ankeney (Fort Worth, TX), Bethany Curtis (Memphis, TN)
  • On and Off (billboard design, high school): Sydney Waldrop (Bothell, WA)
  • Don’t Scroll (billboard design, college): Jami Pandiscio (Franklin, MA)
  • Multitasker (radio, high school): Jaden Nybakken (Minneapolis, MN)
  • DND (radio, college): Kambria Cook (Richmond, VA)

A number of advertising industry executives and artists donated their time and expertise to judge the entries. This year’s panel included recording artist and songwriter Aloe Blacc; renowned filmmaker and social activist Kweku Mandela; Partner at The Consello Group Wendy Clark; Wordsworth + Booth President Tony Mennuto; Co-Chairman and Partner of Goodby Silverstein & Partners Jeff Goodby; award-winning poet, songwriter, and author IN-Q; and representatives from the Martin Agency, Organic and Project Yellow Light partners.

Article last updated on July 10th, 2024 at 1:31 pm