Mars Area School District has selected its winning entries in the District’s 2024 Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) School Bus Safety Poster Contest.

In Division 1, open to students in Grades K-2, second-grader Phoenix Perino took first place; second-grader Winstyn Hawk, second place; and first-grader Paisley Place, third place. In Division 2 (3-5), fifth-grader Katherine Sherwin, received first place; fifth-grader Sylvia Bryant, second place; and fourth-grader Hannah Craver, third place.

Honorable Mentions were awarded to fourth-graders Nadya Ignatuk and Sadie Rhoads; third-graders Olivia Evans, Declan Mahon and Anastasia Trombulak; second-grader Ethan Kight; first-graders Emilia Lombardo and Zain Patel; and, kindergartners Colin Aloisio, Haley Rafaniello and Nathan Westfall.

The first place winners’ entries will be submitted to the 2024 PennDOT School Bus Safety Poster Contest. Winners of the state contest will be announced in late-April 2024.

All District winners will be recognized during an Awards Ceremony to be held during National School Bus Safety Week (October) at the beginning of the 2024-2025 School Year. And, their posters will be displayed in the Board Room at the District’s Administration Office.

The annual PennDOT contest asked students to design and submit a poster on this year’s contest theme, “Driving Safely Into the Future.” For more information, contact Tina Smith, Director of Transportation, at (724) 625-1518 or visit www.dmv.pa.gov/Driver-Services/Commercial-Driver/School-Bus-Drivers/Pages/School-Bus-Safety-Week-Poster-Contest.aspx.