TOYOTA AND DISCOVERY EDUCATION ANNOUNCE WINNERS OF 2014 TOYOTA TEEN DRIVER VIDEO CHALLENGE AND HIGH SCHOOL SWEEPSTAKES
-- Video Challenge Nets Students from Irvine, Calif. $15,000 and the Chance to Work with Discovery to Produce their Entry as a TV-Ready PSA --
June 17, 2014
Silver Spring, MD [June 17, 2014] -Toyota and Discovery Education today announced that Jenny Kim, Tyler Koski, Kevin Kim and Chase Masters of Irvine, CA were chosen as the grand prize winners of the 2014 Toyota Teen Driver Video Challenge. The Challenge is part of Toyota and Discovery Education's joint Toyota Teen Driver program, created to help teens avoid distractions and stay safe behind the wheel.
Now in its third year, the Toyota Teen Driver Video Challenge asks students across the country to produce short videos that inspire their peers to avoid distractions while behind the wheel. This year, ten finalist videos were selected from more than 1,000 entries and posted online for public voting.
The winning video features a young boy who visits a tarot card reader and learns he has the power to dramatically change his future by avoiding driving distractions when he becomes a teenager. You can view the video at toyotateendriver.com/teens/video-archive .
The winning team from Irvine will share $15,000 and work with a Discovery film crew to reshoot their video as a professional, TV-ready PSA. The second place winner, Rachel Mallasch of Snoqualmie, WA, will receive $10,000, as well as a behind-the-scenes trip for two to a show on Discovery's Velocity network. The third place winner, Jake Martin from Amesbury, MA, will receive $7,500.
In addition to the winners of the Video Challenge, Toyota and Discovery Education have also announced Pine Lake Preparatory in Mooresville, N.C. as the grand prize winner in this year's Toyota Teen Driver School Sweeps. As grand prize winner, Pine Lake will receive $5,000 for the school as well as a safe driving simulator. Ten runner-up schools will also receive $1,000 prizes.
"At Toyota, we've had a longstanding commitment to offering programs and resources that help teen drivers stay safe and avoid distractions," said Latondra Newton, Chief Corporate Social Responsibility Officer, Toyota Motor North America Inc. "This is the third year we've hosted the Toyota Teen Driver Video Challenge and once again, we were blown away by the level of creativity and passion that teens across the country brought to the topic. All the entries were impressive, but we extend our heartfelt congratulations to the winners from Irvine, California."
"The Board of Directors, faculty, staff, and students of Crean Lutheran High School are exceedingly proud of Chase, Jenny, Kevin, and Tyler for their creative work on behalf of promoting safe driving among teenagers," said Brian Underwood, Executive Director, Crean Lutheran High School. "These four are not only terrifically-talented and insightful filmmakers, but they are also extraordinary, respected individuals on campus."
Toyota Teen Driver, a joint education program by Toyota and Discovery Education, offers teens, parents and teachers free online resources, including curriculum, parent coaching guides and activities that help initiate important conversations about the life-changing choices teens can make behind the wheel. The program is a part of TeenDrive365 (www.teendrive365.com), Toyota's comprehensive initiative designed to help families navigate their teen's first years on the road. Building on the programs and resources Toyota has offered for more than ten years, TeenDrive365 offers a collection of online tools, events, expert advice and tips, as well as social media.
For more information on the Toyota Teen Driver program and to view a full list of winners in this year's Toyota Teen Driver School Sweeps, please visit: toyotateendriver.com/sweepstakes.
ABOUT TOYOTA
Toyota (NYSE:TM), the world's top automaker and creator of the Prius, is committed to building vehicles for the way people live through our Toyota, Lexus and Scion brands. Over the past 50 years, we've built more than 25 million cars and trucks in North America, where we operate 14 manufacturing plants and directly employ more than 40,000 people. Our 1,800 North American dealerships sold more than 2.5 million cars and trucks in 2013 - and about 80 percent of all Toyota vehicles sold over the past 20 years are still on the road today.
Toyota partners with philanthropic organizations across the country, with a focus on education, safety and the environment. As part of this commitment, we share the company's extensive know-how garnered from building great cars and trucks to help community organizations and other nonprofits expand their ability to do good. To date, Toyota has contributed more than $700 million to nonprofits in the U.S. For more information about Toyota, visit www.toyota.com/usa.
About Discovery Education
Discovery Education is the global leader in standards-based digital content and professional development for K-12, transforming teaching and learning with award-winning digital textbooks, multimedia content that supports the implementation of Common Core, professional development, assessment tools, and the largest professional learning community of its kind. Available in over half of all U.S. schools and primary schools in England, community colleges and in 50 countries around the world, Discovery Education partners with districts, states and like-minded organizations to captivate students, empower teachers, and transform classrooms with customized solutions that accelerate academic achievement. Discovery Education is powered by Discovery Communications (NASDAQ: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the number one nonfiction media company in the world. Explore the future of education at www.discoveryeducation.com.