Edison Teens Win 'Don’t Drive Dangerously' PSA Contest

EDISON, NJ — Three Edison teens have won third place in Middlesex County’s traffic safety Public Service Announcement (PSA) contest.

Isha Patel, Sharon Wei, and Srisai Varanasi from J.P. Stevens High Schools were awarded third place for their audio on the 2021 “Don’t Drive Dangerously” PSA, the county announced. The contest was open to teens in all public and non-public Middlesex County high schools.

This year, high school students from 13 schools throughout the County produced 18 videos and six audio recordings promoting safe driving to their friends and classmates. The video and audio submissions were judged on their originality, creativity, sound quality, and strength of message, the County said.

Director of the Board of County Commissioners, Ronald G. Rios congratulated the winners who “helped promote a message that can save lives.”

“These PSAs will be an effective tool in the fight against dangerous driving,” Rios said in a statement. “Not only does this program send a powerful message to young drivers, but it speaks volumes of the teachers and parents who encourage social responsibility within our community.”

Every year, high schools across the County are invited to submit a 60-second student-produced PSA video or 30-second audio PSA, that highlights the consequences of dangerous driving to include driving while impaired or distracted.

Through this program, teens use their creativity to empower peers to make better decisions and resist negative peer pressure while driving, the County said.

“As a public servant – and a member of the community – I am amazed and grateful to see young people making such important contributions, creating videos and recordings that will have an impact on not only their fellow classmates but the community as a whole,” said Deputy Director of the Middlesex County Board of County Commissioners, Shanti Narra.

The “Don’t Drive Dangerously” PSA contest is co-sponsored by the Middlesex County Board of Commissioners; the Middlesex County Superintendent of Schools; NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety; Wellspring Center for Prevention; Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital; and MADD-NJ.

Here’s the full list of 2021 PSA contest winners by category:

Audio:
1st Place – Dunellen High School

• Chloe Cassidy
• Stephanie Fetzer
• Elizabeth Renavitz
• Caitlyn Carlson
• Na''kai Stembridge

2nd Place – New Brunswick High School

• Merari Rodriguez
• Ayanna Moore
• Aylene Gomez
• Bryan Cervantes

3rd Place – John P. Stevens High School

• Isha Patel
• Sharon Wei
• Srisai Varanasi

Video:

1st Place – Middlesex County Academy for Allied Health and Biomedical Sciences

• Soham Shashikumar
• Yash Dixit
• Shiven Sakunala
• Rohan Vivek

2nd Place – Monroe Township High School

• Shannen Woo
• Hayden Woo

3rd Place – North Brunswick Township High School

• Nicholas Moccio
• Tianna Strachan

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