A high school student from Pennsylvania and an undergraduate student from Florida Polytechnic Institute were named winners of the American Road & Transportation Builders Association’s (ARTBA) 4th annual “Student Transportation Video Contest.” They will each receive a $500 cash prize.

The association received more than 30 entries this year in two categories. Sponsored by ARTBA’s Research and Education Division (RED), the contest aims to raise awareness about infrastructure issues by challenging students to develop a brief video exploring various topics relating to America’s transportation network. Students were able to choose their own subject matter, with most focusing on how transportation infrastructure is built and paid for, the impacts of traffic congestion, transportation and urban development plans, and the public’s perception of transportation development. ?

Submissions were reviewed by a panel of ARTBA members and the winning entries were screened during the association’s 2014 National Convention, held Sept. 7 to 9 in California.

Category One — Elementary, Middle or High School Students: “Infrastructure: the Unsung Hero” Ty Miller, Boyertown Area Senior High School

Miller, a 12th grade student at Boyertown Area Senior High School in central Pennsylvania, created a thoughtful video to underscore that transportation infrastructure is the catalyst of American civilization. It discusses how the construction of bridges, canals, waterways, railways, airports and roads are the “unsung heroes” of our society, spurring economic development, providing freedom of mobility and uniting the country.

Second Place was awarded to: “The Million Mile Problem” by Hill Chang of High Technology High School in Lincroft, N.J.

Category Two — Post-Secondary, College or Graduate Students: “Our Deficient Transportation Infrastructure” Aubury Erickson, Florida Polytechnic University

Erickson, a freshman studying mechanical and industrial engineering in Lakeland, Fla., created an informative, four-minute animation outlining the importance the U.S. transportation system to the U.S. economy. As narrator, she explains how America’s transportation infrastructure has been given a “D” rating by the American Society for Civil Engineers. She highlights the nation’s transportation funding challenges, lack of investment and the importance of maintaining a well-developed and sufficient transportation network.

Second Place was awarded to: “The Cars of the Future-Engineering” by David Baril, an animation major at the Southwest University of Visual Arts in Glendale, Ariz.

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