Heads Up Winners

The Rye YMCA is pleased to announce the winners of Heads Up: A Distracted Walking and Driving Poster Contest. The winners are: 1st Place: Ali Howard, 2^nd Place: Kylie Roddy, and 3^rd Place: Cole Passaretti.

Last September, the Rye Y, as part of its Safe Routes to School initiative, invited the students to create posters that illustrate the dangers of distracted walking and driving.

Under the leadership of Rye High School art teacher Andre Soto, 60 students —51 freshmen, eight sophomores, and one junior — in three elective digital classes participated.

The students narrowed the field to 15 finalists, a process that led to thought-provoking discussion in the classroom about distracted walking and driving.

The Rye Y then convened a panel of community judges who selected the three winners.

The judges were: William Connors – Chief, Rye Police Department; Gregg Howells – Executive Director, Rye YMCA; Robin Jovanovich – Editor and Publisher, The Rye Record; Charles Sutter, Planner – Westchester County Dept. of Public Works and Transportation; Kim Larsen – Chairperson, Larchmont-Mamaroneck Safe Routes to School Committee; and Nancy Pasquale – Rye City School District, Board of Education.

All of the posters will be exhibited at the Rye Arts Center through February 7. The 15 finalist posters will then move to the Rye Free Reading Room for a month-long show.

The community is invited to an Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony Thursday, January 24 from 5:30-7 p.m. at The Rye Arts Center.

“The judges were very impressed with the thoughtfulness and creativity that went into every poster,” remarked Rye Y Executive Director Gregg Howells. “One of the goals of the Safe Routes to School Committee is to encourage kids to stay healthy by walking and to stay safe by remaining alert. The students did a great job communicating this message to their peers. We hope that parents, community residents, and students will stop by The Rye Arts Center to view this important exhibit.”

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