Franklin High Students Win Best PSA, Campaign Against Distracted Driving

Published May 9, 2018

The year-long efforts of Franklin High students came to fruition after they were awarded Best Public Service Announcement (PSA) and Best Campaign for their work to prevent distracted driving in their school and community.

The Be in the Zone campaign, sponsored by the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, the Allstate Foundation and Ford Motor Company, encouraged students to use various promotional techniques and strategies in order to caution against distracted driving.

Franklin High health science and marketing students worked throughout the year on their campaign, which included participation in the homecoming parade, inviting guest speakers to the school and driver observations. The media students created a PSA to help with the promotion.

“We are obviously very excited to be awarded the Best Campaign and Best PSA, but the lives impacted is a greater reward,” said FHS marketing educator Darrin Joines. “The real-world experience gained through the campaign was another great benefit. If one life is saved as a result of the marketing and health science students, the campaign was successful.”

The school was awarded $1,500 for winning Best PSA and $2,500 for winning Best Campaign.

“Before joining the Be in the Zone campaign, I never realized how dangerous texting and driving is,” said FHS health science student Elizabeth Embody. “I’m glad I was able to help lead my team and learn about the problem.”

In addition to Embody, the following students were responsible for the award-winning campaign and PSA: Payton Smoot, Maggie Stuhlreyer, Lindsay Webb, Madeline Rubio, Bryson Sams, Porter Edwards, Jackson Fults, Braden Edmondson and Ivan Chen.