Wolf Administration Announces “Innovations Challenge” Contest for High School Students

Wolf Administration Announces "Innovations Challenge" Contest for High
School Students

10/18/2017-HARRISBURG

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the
Pennsylvania
Department of Education (PDE) today invited high school freshmen,
sophomores
and juniors to take part in the first PennDOT Innovations Challenge.

"Every hour, about 15 reportable traffic crashes occur in Pennsylvania and
although we have made positive steps towards reducing traffic crashes,
injuries
and fatalities, a disproportionate number of these crashes involve
teenagers,"
said PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards. "Through PennDOT's Innovations
Challenge, we are inviting high school students to become an active part of
the
solution in helping develop innovative ways to tackle this real
transportation
concern."

The PennDOT Innovations Challenge asks students to look at technologies and

innovative methods, aside from traditional paid advertising, marketing and
social media channels, that can be developed in the next five to ten years
to
curb unsafe teen driving practices.

"Each day, schools across the commonwealth work to provide a secure,
healthy
learning environment for students, and it is critical that students remain
safe
even when they're outside the classroom," said Secretary of Education Pedro
A.
Rivera. "The Innovations Challenge presents an opportunity for
Pennsylvania's
teenagers to learn and be creative in support of an important cause, and
will
remind them to practice safe driving when they're on the road."

The Innovations Challenge aims to not only help students explore real
transportation challenges that PennDOT is facing, but also open their minds
to
the very real possibility of working for PennDOT after graduation.

"The perception is far too often that PennDOT only employs engineers and
equipment operators," Richards said. "While those positions are key to
building, and maintaining Pennsylvania's vast road and bridge network, the
reality is that we employ over 11,000 Pennsylvanians from a huge variety of

educational backgrounds."

Through the PennDOT Innovations Challenge, 11 regional winners will be
selected
and be invited to compete in Harrisburg for the grand championship in April

2018. PennDOT intends for the Innovations Challenge to become an annual
event.

For complete Innovations Challenge details visit
www.penndot.gov/innovation.
The deadline for submissions is January 31.

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