Winners of Distracted Walking & Driving Contest

Community leaders gathered at the Y Studios on Tuesday, January 13 to select the winners of Heads Up! A Distracted Driving and Walking Poster Contest. The contest, which began 15 years ago as part of the Rye Y’s Safe Routes to School initiative, engages Rye High School students in creating posters that illustrate the dangers of distracted walking and driving and the importance of cycling safety.

Seventy-five students from Tony Campbell and Max Handelman West’s Digital Media classes participated. After all of the posters were completed, the students narrowed the field to 13 semi-finalists. The Rye Y then convened a panel of community leaders who selected the three winners. The judges were:

• Brian Dempsey – Chair, City of Rye Traffic & Pedestrian Safety Committee
• Andrew Hara - Principal, Rye High School
• Michael Kopy— Commissioner, City of Rye Public Safety
• Adam Levi – Executive Director, The Rye Arts Center
• Christian Miller – Rye City Planner
• Sabrina Murphy – CEO, Rye YMCA
• Dr. Patricia Murray – Superintendent, Rye City School District
• Josh Nathan – Mayor, City of Rye
• Chris Shoemaker - Director, Rye Free Reading Room

Invited, but unable to attend the judging: Joe Lamberti, Rye Brook Service Center. For the seventh year, the poster contest was sponsored by Mr. Lamberti.

The contest winners are:

First Place: Caroline Parks
Second Place: Anna Scott
Third Place: Manuela Fernandes

More than an art project, Heads Up! also seeks to raise awareness. The 13 semi-finalist posters will be rotated among the following locations in Rye, starting February 2: Rye Free Reading Room, Rye High School, Rye Arts Center, Rye YMCA, and the Rye Police Department. The first place winning poster will also be featured in an ad in The Rye Record. For information about the dates and locations of the exhibit, contact Denise Woodin at denisewoodin@ryeymca.org.

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