STEM Essay Contest Offers College Funding to Students in DC, MD, VA for Contemplating Local Transportation Challenges
WASHINGTON, DC — Partners for Automated Vehicle Education (PAVE) launched the second annual PAVE Essay Contest and Scholarship Program for high school students in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. The contest encourages young people to contemplate a future with automated vehicles – and write about what this technology could mean for their communities. The program offers contest winners college scholarship funding.
“Autonomous vehicles offer the biggest opportunity since the dawn of the automobile to rethink our transportation system: How can we create a system that serves more people more effectively, while making roads more efficient and more environmentally sustainable?” said PAVE Executive Director Tara Andringa. “We at PAVE want everyone in the community to have a voice in what this future transportation system looks like, and this essay contest is an opportunity for young people to contribute their vision and ideas and dreams to help imagine what their future holds.”
The essay contest is open to juniors and seniors enrolled in high schools in Washington, DC, Maryland, or Virginia.
The contest will accept submissions through March 15, 2024. Students choose between three essay prompts related to automated vehicle technology and its societal effects. A committee of experts from the AV ecosystem will score student essays and select the winning essays. Scholarship funding will be given to the top three submissions in the following amounts: $2,500 for first place, $1500 for second place, and $1000 for third place.
Funding for the scholarships is provided by Maryland-based STEER Tech. The contest is also sponsored by the Maryland Department of Transportation and the District Department of Transportation.
More details about the contest are available on the PAVE contest website.
About PAVE: PAVE is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to improve public understanding of advanced vehicle technologies in order to maximize the potential benefits in safety, mobility and sustainability. PAVE members include automotive manufacturers, technology companies, and nonprofit organizations.
