High school students recognized for powerful messages against impaired driving in Monroe County
Rochester, New York – Monroe County STOP-DWI honored local students for their creativity and commitment to public safety during the 2025 High School Media Contest awards ceremony held Monday, February 23 at 5:30 p.m. The recognition event took place at the Ebenezer Watts Building Conference Center, where winners were celebrated for producing powerful messages warning peers about the dangers of impaired driving.
The annual contest challenged high school students across Monroe County to create original media highlighting the risks of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Organizers reported that 16 entries were submitted in a short timeframe, each reviewed by a committee using established criteria such as originality, accuracy, clarity of messaging, public safety appeal, and overall production quality.
After careful review, three students emerged as the top winners:
Winnie J., Eastridge High School
Sybil M., Rush-Henrietta High School
Sabina A., Rush-Henrietta High School
Each student produced a public service announcement designed to resonate with young drivers and encourage responsible decision-making.
Youth voices lead prevention efforts
Rather than limiting the contest to classroom learning, the program allowed winners to take their messages directly to the public. Each student selected their preferred media platform for distributing their PSA. In December, Monroe County STOP-DWI launched paid advertising for the winning submissions, allowing the students to choose where their messages would appear. Officials said the campaign received strong engagement and will continue to be used as part of ongoing impaired-driving prevention efforts.
County Executive Adam Bello emphasized the importance of peer-driven messaging, especially given the ongoing risks facing young drivers.
“In recent years in Monroe County, alcohol was a contributing factor in over 61% of crashes involving young drivers,” said Monroe County Executive Adam Bello. “The STOP-DWI High School Media Contest put the messaging in the hands of our youth- asking them to craft messages about the dangers of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs that would resonate with their peers. The submissions were creative and persuasive, and the winning entries are a testament to their ability to use their voices to yield powerful results.”
Program leaders say engaging young people directly helps ensure safety messages feel real and relatable. STOP-DWI Coordinator Lindsay Tomidy noted that the contest empowers students to use media to promote responsible choices and protect lives.
“The Monroe County STOP-DWI High School PSA Media Contest encourages students in grades 9 through 12 to use media as a tool for public safety education, reinforcing the message that impaired driving is 100 percent preventable and that responsible choices protect lives.” said Lindsay Tomidy, Monroe County STOP-DWI Coordinator. “The work submitted was truly incredible across the board. We are grateful for the students, the schools who supported their work, and the ability to use their messages going forward throughout our work.”
The Monroe County STOP-DWI Program focuses on reducing alcohol- and drug-impaired driving through education, enforcement, and community engagement. Officials say programs like the media contest help build awareness while encouraging young people to take ownership of safety in their communities.
By placing prevention messages in the hands of students and sharing their work through real advertising campaigns, Monroe County continues to strengthen its efforts to reduce impaired driving and protect lives on local roadways.
For more information about Monroe County STOP-DWI programs or future contests, visit monroecounty.gov/ts, where social media pages and additional resources are available.
