Marks & Harrison Launches Driver Safety Scholarship Contest to Combat Distracted Driving

Marks & Harrison has announced its first-ever Driver Safety Scholarship Contest, which will award a combined $4,200 in college scholarship funds to students who submit the top three entries. As a law firm with a history that stretches back more than 100 years, Marks & Harrison is dedicated to promoting safety throughout the communities it serves. The goal of the contest is to raise awareness of distracted driving—one of the nation's leading causes of traffic accidents—while supporting students in their pursuit of a college education.

The first-place winner will receive a $2,000 scholarship, with a $1,200 award for second place, and a $1,000 award for third place. The contest is open to graduating high school seniors in Virginia and rising college freshmen enrolled in a college or university in Virginia or Washington DC, including students planning to attend two-year and four-year schools. To enter, students must submit an original essay of at least 1,000 words or a video essay of between 5-6 minutes in length before the deadline of 11:59 p.m. on Friday, May 2, 2025. Only one entry per student is allowed.

The essay or video must address the question: "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?" The tone of the video or essay can be serious or light-hearted as long as it is original, thoughtful, and well-researched. A panel will choose the winning entries based on their originality and creativity. On Monday, June 2, 2025, Marks & Harrison will announce the winners and publish their winning entries on the firm's website and social media sites.

This initiative matters because it directly tackles distracted driving, a pervasive public safety issue that contributes significantly to traffic fatalities and injuries nationwide. By engaging students in creating educational content, the contest not only provides financial support for higher education but also empowers young people to become advocates for safer driving practices within their communities. The scholarship awards represent a tangible investment in both student futures and road safety awareness, potentially inspiring innovative solutions to a problem that affects drivers of all ages. The requirement for well-researched entries ensures that submissions will be grounded in factual understanding of distracted driving risks, which could lead to more effective community education strategies. For more information about the firm, visit https://www.marksandharrison.com.