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GEICO Names 5 Grand-Prize Winners in National Safety Belt Poster Competition


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WASHINGTON--More than 2,400 students from across the country showed their dedication to seat belt safety by entering GEICO’s 21st annual Safety Belt Poster Contest, and five recently were selected as national grand-prize winners:

  • Jan Takamatsu, Hawaii, won the computer-generated poster category. His close up view of a young boy safely buckled up dominated a scene of a car on the highway whose journey ended at a safety belt buckle.
  • Christine Lee, California, earned the national title in the 16-18 age group by drawing a world surrounded by a swirling safety belt and children whimsically riding the belt to safety.
  • Jenny Park, California, led everyone in the age 12-15 age group. Her theme – Live, Love, Protect – artfully displayed a baby buckled up and snuggling with its mother.
  • Creson Lee, Virginia, won the 9-11 age group for creating a futuristic city in which a bowling ball is transformed into a car and the crossing guards that watch over the drivers are stylized bowling pins.
  • Jason Lee, Virginia, took top honors in the 6-8 age group for his artwork that featured an orbiting planet where everyone is buckled up and drives safely.

“We couldn’t be more proud of this year’s grand-prize winners,” said Tony Nicely, GEICO chairman. “Their creativity shows that students are embracing the message of seat belt safety and encouraging others to do the same. We were very impressed with the level of talent we saw. These young people can do amazing things.”

GEICO awards each national winner $650 and their schools receive $500 for art supplies and materials.

GEICO also provided another 88 students with cash prizes ranging from $150 to $50 for earning the top honors in their regional competitions.

Serving as judges for this year’s competition were Syreta Sharp of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Suzie Angulo from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Emily Groeber of Fleishman Hillard International Communications.

This is the first time that two siblings in the same family (Jason and Creson Lee) won in their respective age divisions.

GEICO’s next Safety Belt Poster Contest will begin in October, 2008. Entry details will be posted on www.geico.com in the fall.

GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is the fourth-largest private passenger auto insurer in the United States. It provides auto insurance coverage for more than 8 million policyholders and insures more than 13 million vehicles. In addition to auto insurance, GEICO offers customers insurance products for their motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATV's), boats, homes, apartments and mobile homes. Personal umbrella protection and life insurance are also available. As a member of the Berkshire Hathaway group of companies, GEICO is rated A++ for financial stability by A.M. Best Company and ranks at the top of several national customer satisfaction surveys. For more information, go to www.geico.com.