Students can earn scholarships by discouraging distracted driving

Michigan Auto Law will be awarding $5,000 in scholarships to four Michigan High School Juniors and Seniors through their 2025 Kelsey’s Law Distracted Driving Awareness Scholarship. 11th- and 12th-grade students attending any public or private high school in Michigan are encouraged to create and submit compelling messages through YouTube videos, graphics, or TikTok posts that discourage their peers from distracted driving.

Applications for the 2025 Kelsey’s Law Distracted Driving Awareness Scholarship are being accepted now at www.MichiganAutoLaw.com.

Applications will be accepted through March 21, and winners will be announced in April to coincide with National Distracted Driving Awareness Month.

The Kelsey’s Law Distracted Driving Awareness Scholarship was created in 2016 by Michigan Auto Law to honor Kelsey Raffaele, a 17-year-old who tragically lost her life in a cell phone-related automobile crash in 2010.

Inspiring change and awareness

Through this scholarship and its many community outreach efforts, Michigan Auto Law hopes to inspire change and raise awareness on the dangers of distracted driving, especially with young and inexperienced drivers.

“As lawyers, it is devastating to work with families who have lost loved ones due to distracted driving,” stated Steve Gursten, Attorney and Owner of Michigan Auto Law.

“We started working with Bonnie Raffaele and created this scholarship to help bring awareness to the harmful effects of distracted driving.”

To be considered for the 2025 Kelsey’s Law Distracted Driving Awareness Scholarship, Michigan high school juniors and seniors are invited to submit compelling You Tube videos, graphics, or TikTok posts, that resonate with their peers and influence young drivers to reduce distractions while driving.

Entries will be judged based on their ability to persuade others to stop texting while driving, grab the attention of friends and family, deliver a clear and understandable message, and showcase personal creativity and ingenuity.

Multiple ways to earn scholarship

The $5,000 scholarship combined total offers various award amounts per category, including one $2,000 scholarship for the overall best submission, one $1,500 scholarship for the best video submission, one $1,000 scholarship for the best graphic submission, and one $500 scholarship for the best X submission.

Each student is limited to one type of submission.

The scholarship funds will be applied towards tuition at any university, college, or technical school in the United States.

Applicants must be Michigan residents with a valid driver’s license. Finalists will be required to provide proof of enrollment, and if under 18 years old by April 15, 2025, a parental consent form must be signed.

Driving distractions are more than just using a cell phone and/or texting, but also eating and drinking, reading, using navigations systems, and even changing radio stations.

Strong laws inspired by Kelsey

Through the support and tireless advocacy of Bonnie Raffaele, Kelsey’s mother, the Kelsey’s Law was passed in Michigan in 2013, prohibiting cell phone use by teen drivers with a Level 1 or Level 2 graduated license.

Teen drivers are prohibited from initiating a call, answering a call, or listening to or engaging in verbal communications through a cell phone while they’re behind the wheel — regardless of whether the phone is hand-held or in “voice-operated” mode.

Teen drivers who violate Kelsey’s Law may be ticketed by law enforcement officers. Bonnie Raffaele has been a steadfast supporter and invaluable partner of Michigan Auto Law’s through the Kelsey’s Law Distracted Driving Awareness.

For more information and to apply, please visit MichiganAutoLaw.com under Scholarships tab.