Maria Montero, a student at J.M. Hill Elementary School in East Stroudsburg, won first place in her division at both the Pennsylvania and national School Bus Safety Poster Contest.
Montero was one of three East Stroudsburg Area School District students honored at the ceremony, the district said. The event took place Oct. 22 at the Hershey Antique Automobile Museum during School Bus Safety Week. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) presented student winners with certificates and trophies.
Montero placed first in the Grades 3-5 division at the state level. Her artwork then advanced to the national competition in August, where she again placed first in her division, according to PennWatch.
Two other ESASD students also earned state recognition. Jeilyn Gutierrez-Torres, also of J.M. Hill Elementary, placed third in the Grades 3-5 division. Jada Bernard of East Stroudsburg Elementary School placed second in the Kindergarten through Grade 2 division.
All three East Stroudsburg students competed against a field of 92 entries from schools across Pennsylvania. The contest's theme was "Safe Rides – Everyday Heroes."
Ten students and three bus drivers from across the state were honored at the ceremony. PennDOT Director of Driver Licensing Dios Arroyo said School Bus Safety Week "gives everyone an opportunity to pause and realize just how much our own actions behind the wheel can affect innocent, young lives," Fox 43 reported.
Along with Montero's first-place national finish, one other Pennsylvania winner placed at the national level. Bilal Shayan of Bradford Woods Elementary School in Allegheny County took second in the Kindergarten through Grade 2 division, according to PennWatch.
