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Lake Asbury woman wins national scholarship contest

Clay Today
Posted 6/13/18

NEW YORK – A Lake Asbury woman won first prize in a national contest that aims to raise awareness about texting and driving and other distractions behind the wheel.

Virginia “Ginny” …

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Lake Asbury woman wins national scholarship contest


Posted

NEW YORK – A Lake Asbury woman won first prize in a national contest that aims to raise awareness about texting and driving and other distractions behind the wheel.

Virginia “Ginny” Stephens, a student at St. Johns River State College, was awarded the only college level national scholarship for a radio public service announcement titled “Multitasking” that will be released on iheartradio this year to more than 800 radio stations for the Project Yellow Light No Texting & Driving Campaign. Stephens was awarded a $2,000 Hunter Garner Scholarship from Project Yellow Light.

The ad played on the Clear Channel billboards above McDonalds, live in Times Square in New York City on June 8 during an event honoring the winners of this year’s competition.

“We’re so proud of this year’s winners and all Project Yellow Light participants. The work they do to encourage their peers not to text and drive is so important – we are incredibly thankful for them raising their voices in this important conversation,” said Julie Garner, whose son Hunter died in a car crash in 2007. “And, as always, a very special thanks to our partners who make it all happen.”

In 2016, 3,450 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes involving distracted drivers. Teens are some of the worst offenders; nine percent of drivers 15 to 19 years old who were involved in fatal crashes were reported as being distracted at the time of the crash.

Stephens, a 2017 graduate of Clay High, will finish at SJR State in December and plans to major in digital media at Southeastern University in Lakeland, beginning in January 2019.

Since 2011, Project Yellow Light has partnered with the Ad Council to turn the winning submissions into PSAs that receive nationwide exposure through 1,600 TV stations, iHeartRadio channels, as well as over 1,000 Clear Channel Outdoor digital billboards.