Story from Cleveland.com
Written By Beth Mlady, Special to cleveland.com
Local high school students have developed a unique social media campaign to raise awareness about the dangers of distracted driving, with car accidents being the leading cause of death for teenagers.
Channeling an Addams Family vibe, students enrolled in Polaris Career Center’s Broadcasting and Video Production satellite program, as well as in the Marketing and Entrepreneurship satellite program, joined forces in hopes of winning NJM Insurance Group’s Just Drive contest. Both programs are located inside Berea-Midpark High School.
Impact Teen Drivers, a national organization promoting smart decision making, is also a sponsor. High school students from Connecticut, Maryland, New Jersey, Ohio and Pennsylvania participate.
Contest components include a school presentation, posters, infographics, fliers, signs, multiple 30-second public service announcements, a press release, various social media content and a highlight video encapsulating the project from start to finish.
Additionally, a school-wide Distracted Driving Fair for students to attend during lunchtime will take place on March 29.
While the social media campaign may be spooky, kooky or altogether ooky, participants have enjoyed the camaraderie while helping to spread the potentially life-saving message.
“Distracted driving is a huge problem with younger people,” Broadcasting and Video Production senior Hailey Fuller said. “You look away while you’re driving, and you’re already swerving.”
Madison Mattila, a senior in the Marketing and Entrepreneurship program, acted and danced the role of Wednesday in the videos. She told cleveland.com distracted driving is “a big problem we need to address.”
“You could hesitate for one second, and your world is gone,” Mattila said.
Polaris students developed the slogan for their Distracted Driving Social Media Campaign project using an Addams Family theme. (Beth Mlady/special to cleveland.com)
Instructor Katie Street said the campaign slogan is “Distracted Driving - Don’t Make It a Thing.” A 3-D printer generated Thing, the creepy, disembodied hand seen in the movies.
“We create everything ourselves,” Street said. “We’re using a lot of (equipment) from both of our programs in this project. It’s a huge collaboration.
“I learn so much from my students. They did a great job.”
Students willingly extended their school day to work on the campaign, instructor Melissa Burchett added.
“I was beyond impressed with that and how well they worked together,” Burchett said. “These kids came up with all these amazing ideas and just got it done. I’m inspired by them.”
The community is encouraged to view the social media campaign from March 27-31. Access TikTok, Instagram or Twitter at @polarissignpro or @titans_studio_. On YouTube, go to @Titans_Studio_.
For more information, or to donate items for the March 29 Distracted Driving Fair, contact Katie Street at [email protected] or Melissa Burchett at [email protected]. They also can be reached at BMHS by calling 216-898-8900.
Just Drive contest winners will be announced in May. The first-place award is $10,000.