Local Students Win by Joining Mesa Efforts to Promote Safety

April 13, 2023 at 9:56 am

The City of Mesa's Bicycle and Pedestrian Program is honored to announce the inaugural Move Safe PSA Contest winners. The contest invited Mesa students ages 12-18 to create a 30-second to one-minute public service announcement showing how to walk, bike, or roll safely in the community using one of five safety tips.

The winning Grand Prize PSA video is called "Civilian Safety Road Tips" submitted by local student, Matthew Hall. The runner-up videos are "3 Rules of Crosswalk Safety" submitted by Alexei Katkov and Katie Thompson and "Silent Film" submitted by Rylend Duve. Judges from ASU, Cox Communications, Phoenix Film Festival and City of Mesa gave honorable mentions to Michael Villarreal for the video "Don't be Like Charlie" and to Joshua Blankenship, Olivia Rasheta, Brandon Villasenor for their video "Don't Risk Your Life, Cross at The Light." Mesa received more than twelve entries from students representing four different schools to select a winner. Student videos were judged on film choice, message clarity, creativity and originality.

"We are excited and encouraged by the youth response to our inaugural Move Safe PSA Contest. This is a positive and important addition to our many safety efforts, and we hope it will make a difference in our community," said Mesa Transportation Director RJ Zeder. "The students' hard work and effort is evident by the high quality of all the videos that we received."

The Grand Prize winner's PSA can be seen in select Harkins Theaters in April and May. The Grand Prize Winner also receives a private screening and tour of ASU MIX Center, a prize package from Phoenix Film Festival, a prize package from Harkins Theaters and a bicycle from the City of Mesa's Bicycle and Pedestrian Program.

In addition, the two runners-up each receive a prize package from Harkins Theaters, free submission to the 2024 Arizona Student Film Festival and a safety gift bag from the City of Mesa's Bicycle and Pedestrian Program. Because this year's competition was so close, with only points separating the top scores, two honorable mentions were given to the fourth and fifth place videos.

Move Safe PSA Contest coincides with Valley Bike Month in April and National Bike Month in May. You can view the winning PSAs in select Harkins locations and on the City of Mesa's Bicycle and Pedestrian Program's Facebook throughout April and May.