The Virginia-based law firm Marks & Harrison has launched its inaugural Driver Safety Scholarship Contest, offering a total of $4,200 in college scholarship funds. The contest invites students to submit original essays or video essays focused on combating distracted driving, a leading cause of traffic accidents nationwide. This initiative represents a direct effort by the century-old firm to promote community safety while supporting academic pursuits.
Eligibility for the contest is limited to graduating high school seniors in Virginia and rising college freshmen enrolled in institutions within Virginia or Washington DC. This includes students attending both two-year and four-year colleges. Participants must submit either a written essay of at least 1,000 words or a video essay lasting between five and six minutes by the deadline of 11:59 p.m. on Friday, May 2, 2025. Each student is permitted only one entry.
The core question all entries must address is: "How can we educate our community about the dangers of distracted driving, and what are some practical ways we can drastically reduce distracted driving-related accidents?" Submissions can adopt either a serious or light-hearted tone, provided they are original, thoughtful, and well-researched. A judging panel will evaluate entries based on their originality and creativity in approaching this critical public safety issue.
Scholarship awards are structured with a first-place prize of $2,000, a second-place award of $1,200, and a third-place award of $1,000. Winners will be announced on Monday, June 2, 2025, with their entries published on the firm's website and social media platforms. This public dissemination aims to amplify the educational message beyond the contest participants.
For business and technology leaders, this initiative highlights how traditional professional service firms are leveraging educational contests and digital media to address societal challenges. The requirement for video essays particularly reflects the growing importance of multimedia communication skills in both education and professional environments. The firm's use of its online contact form for inquiries demonstrates continued integration of digital tools in client and community engagement.
The contest's focus on distracted driving intersects with broader technological discussions about device usage, automotive safety systems, and public policy. As industries develop advanced driver-assistance systems and grapple with the implications of mobile technology, grassroots educational efforts like this scholarship contest contribute to a multi-faceted approach to road safety. The financial incentive structure also illustrates how private organizations can directly support educational access while advancing specific civic goals.
