Recap: 15th Annual Champion Schools Program
The Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey proudly celebrated the 15th year of its U Got Brains Champion Schools Program—a significant milestone in promoting teen driving safety across the state. This annual initiative engaged students and staff from New Jersey high schools in creating impactful campaigns focused on various teen driving safety topics.
Participating schools received a cash stipend and technical support to bring their ideas to life, while advisors earned professional development hours. The top three schools were awarded cash prizes, generously provided by NJM Insurance Group, in recognition of their outstanding work and creativity.
Throughout the year, the program spotlighted the innovative efforts of these schools, culminating in the Annual Showcase on May 22, 2025. The event celebrated the achievements of all participants and revealed the winning campaigns in front of peers, partners, and supporters.
The 15th-anniversary edition proved to be the most exciting yet—honoring past successes, encouraging peer leadership, and reinforcing the importance of safe driving practices among teens across New Jersey.
Questions? Contact us or call 732-745-0200.
Stay Alert, Stay Alive: Because Community Knows No Borders
Matawan Regional High School, a longtime Champion Schools Program participant, earned Grand Prize Winner for their impactful “Stay Alert, Stay Alive: Because Community Knows No Borders” campaign. Sparked by a local tragedy, the project addressed impaired and distracted driving through education, advocacy, and creative outreach. Students extended their efforts to Howell, NJ, where their petition and data presentation led to new speed enforcement and over 200 traffic stops. Their campaign also included emotional assemblies, a Serenity Rock Garden memorial, and collaboration with local leaders. With student-led media, strong partnerships, and data-driven advocacy, the team reached 5,000 students and 380+ residents, Matawan Regional created a lasting impact on traffic safety and community awareness.
Click-Clack Front and Back
Indian Hills High School returned as a Grand Prize Winner with their continued “Click-Clack Front and Back” campaign. This year’s project focused on legislative advocacy to make rear seatbelt use a primary offense in New Jersey, building on momentum for Bills S2125/A433. Students traveled to Trenton, met with state legislators, and secured new co-sponsors, reinforcing their commitment to statewide change. They also expanded their focus to include distracted driving, pedestrian and bicyclist safety, and cannabis-impaired driving, reaching over 700 students through assemblies, PSAs, simulations, and creative schoolwide events. With strong community partnerships, student leadership, and data-driven impact, Indian Hills continues to drive meaningful traffic safety change.
Pway You Know, Drive Safe—Drive Slow!
In their first year participating in the Champion Schools Program, Piscataway High School earned Grand Prize Winner for their first-year SADD campaign, “Pway You Know, Drive Safe—Drive Slow!”—a creative, community-rooted effort focused on reducing speeding. In partnership with the Piscataway Police Safe Streets team, students used local data to shape messaging and outreach, including schoolwide announcements, lawn signs, social media, town hall presentations, and community events including a Chalk the Walk event. They hosted assemblies, field trips, and hands-on simulations to show the real-life impact of risky driving. With bold branding tied to school spirit, strong teamwork, and cross-club collaboration, Piscataway’s campaign reached 2,300 students and resonated across the community to lay a powerful foundation for ongoing change.
200
Schools
21
Counties
Approximately 1 Million
Students involved
Get Started with Our Tools for Schools
To help you become a Champion School for safe teen driving, the following is a collection of content, tools, and resources. Looking for something else? Contact Us »
Use the following links to learn more about the Champion Schools Program and your roles and responsibilities as a participating school.
- Application
- Mid-Term Update – due by March 15, 2025
- Final Update – due by May 1, 2025
Promoting your project is vital to spreading the word about your campaign and increasing its impact. Review the Media Tip Sheet and use the Fillable Press Release to send to local and state newspapers for an article about your project. Also, please remember that each participating student and faculty member must have a signed Photo and Video Release Form. Teams will be required to bring their signed release forms with them at the Awards Showcase.
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- Media Tip Sheet
- Fillable Press Release
- Sponsors Logos – please add the logos on this page to any materials you create as a way to thank our sponsors.
- UgotBrains Champion Schools 15th Anniversary Logo – for use in promotional materials
- Photo Video Release Form
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Below are resources to help you get started with your project. Please use local, state, and national resources as you see fit for your campaign.
- www.bianj.org
- https://www.njm.com/teen-driver-safety
- www.njoag.gov
- www.nhtsa.gov
- https://www.nhtsa.gov/road-safety/teen-driving
- bestreetsmartnj.org
- www.ghsa.org
- njbwc.org
- njbikeped.org
- https://highways.dot.gov/
- nj.gov/njsp/info/fatalacc
- https://madd.org/
- www.arrivealive.co.za
- https://www.safekids.org/
- https://www.sadd.org/
- https://www.impactteendrivers.org/
- https://exchange.aaa.com/safety/teen-driver-safety/
- https://www.nsc.org/road/resources/
- https://nikhilbadlanifoundation.org/
- https://www.nrsf.org/passport-safe-driving
- https://www.iihs.org/
- https://www.cdc.gov/teen-drivers/risk-factors/index.html
- https://flteensafedriver.org/
- https://safeteendriving.org/resources/yovaso
- https://www.noys.org/
- https://www.statefarm.com/simple-insights/auto-and-vehicles/ways-to-help-your-teen-driver-stay-safe
- https://wesavelives.org/
Use the information in your campaigns and/or share these infographics on social media sites.
In order to enhance the U Got Brains Champion Schools Program, we’ve implemented an evaluation component developed by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia’s (CHOP) Research Institute. Schools will be asked to participate in this online evaluation at the end of the program.
Faculty Advisor Survey Report 2022-23
The Champion Schools Program has been evaluated by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute and has proved to not only increase awareness and education about safe driving, but most importantly, change driving behavior.
The following is a summary of the key findings of the program:
Summary of Findings
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- As a result of the program, teens reported seeing their peers engaging in safer driving behaviors, felt greater social pressure from their friends to drive and ride safely (i.e., their perceptions of what they believe their friends wanted them to do), and they perceived a more positive driving safety culture at their school.
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- Teens reported engaging in safer driving behaviors (e.g., Riding and Driving Focused) as a result of their school’s participation in the U Got Brain’s Champion Schools Program.
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- Overall engagement with the program was strong; most schools had student teams that met at least five (5) or more times, according to advisors.
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- When the school’s program “clicked,” students were engaged and had fun, and key stakeholders (school administration, community, students, and the advisors) found the experience to be very gratifying and successful.
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Key Individual Report Findings:
ADVISORS:
Overall, advisors were very pleased with their advising experience and noted several strengths of the program including the overall impact (i.e., the extent to which awareness of teen driver safety increased in the school) and the importance of the message.
TEAM MEMBERS/STUDENTS:
Student Team Members reported:
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- Increasing awareness of teen driving safety at the school and community level
- Having fun learning about aspects of the GDL laws
- Doing a good deed and helping others
- Working together, helping students and community be better and safer drivers
- Receiving increased knowledge and positive feedback from other students and the community.
- Having a positive experience by participating in the program and that they exercise safer behaviors as a result
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Changes in Students’ Driving/Passenger Behaviors
Students reported engaging in safer driving and riding behaviors. This effect was driven by positive changes in the peer culture around safe driving in their school.
Changes in Student’s Awareness of Teen Driving Safety
Students reported a stronger school culture related to safe driving.
As we move forward with this program to help reduce driving injuries and fatalities among teens in New Jersey, we will continue to work on improvements.
Become A Champion Schools Sponsor
The U Got Brains Champion Schools Program would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. In addition to a grant provided by the New Jersey Division of Highway Traffic Safety, we have partnered with other organizations that share our commitment to keeping new drivers safe on the roadways.
Sponsorship opportunities are available for our 2024-2025 U Got Brains Champion Schools Program. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this innovative program.
