Every year www.rockthebelt.org has a Buckle Up Teens! contest. Minnesotan teenagers make their own T.V. commercials educating their peers about the importance of buckling up. Eventually there are six finalists, and this year two of the six are from BHS. Juniors Neil Gleason and Michael Bonde both made it to the top six, and now they are waiting for the results.
“I entered the contest last year and got into the top three,” said Gleason. “I ended up placing second and winning $600. My friends had convinced me to do it. I gues sometimes peer pressure is a good thing.”
Anyone can go online and vote. You just have to go to www.rockthevote.org, click on Buckle Up Teens!, watch the videos and click “VOTE”. You will need to fill out a couple questions, then vote for your favorite. First prize is $1,000 and TV premiere of spot. Broadcast details announced soon. Second prize is $600, and third prize is $400.
“We need all the votes we can get,” said Bonde. “It’s really quick and easy. We’re competing against kids from a lot bigger schools, so it’s going to be tough to get as many votes as them.”
The winner of the contest will be announced on May 19. If you would like to enter this contest next year, just stay tuned to the website. Information for next year’s contest will be posted this fall.