WASHINGTON, DC — Partners for Automated Vehicle Education (PAVE), a nonprofit coalition that works to educate the public on automated vehicle (AV) technologies, has announced the winners of the annual PAVE Essay Contest and Scholarship Program. Now in its second year, the contest encourages high school juniors and seniors to write about the impacts of a future with automated vehicles.
“Autonomous vehicles have the potential to make our transportation system safer, more sustainable, and more equitable,” said PAVE Executive Director Tara Andringa. “At the same time, AVs bring about new challenges – and our essay contest encourages future leaders to think through these challenges and opportunities. We were thrilled to see so many students participate this year!”
More than 200 students across Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia entered the contest, representing communities with diverse geography, transportation needs, and economies. A committee of experts from different areas of the AV industry scored the essays on a 100-point scale that evaluated their thesis development, creativity, organization, format, and grammar.
Thanks to generous sponsors STEER, the District Department of Transportation, and the Maryland Department of Transportation, the highest-scored essay from each location will receive scholarship funds. Listed below are the contest winners:
- First Place: Joseph Tso, Junior in Annandale, VA
- Second Place: Benjamin Savino, Senior in Poolesville, MD
- Third Place: Xander Sehgal, Junior in Washington D.C.
To learn more about the PAVE Essay Contest & Scholarship Program, visit https://pavecampaign.org/pave-essay-contest/.
