The Montgomery County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) announced the winners of its 2026 “Heads Up, Phones Down” teen video contest, which encourages high school students to promote safe, distraction-free travel.
The contest received nearly 100 entries from students across the County. Julian Szell of John F. Kennedy High School won the individual grand prize for his video “It Can Wait,” while Nubia Abatemam, Grace Mbonguy, Namibia Mustapha, and Grace Tawes of Richard Montgomery High School won the group grand prize for “The Choice is Yours.”
Additional winners included Tatiana Delgado of Einstein High School and Ethan Anyam of Springbrook High School in the individual category, and teams from Richard Montgomery and Walter Johnson high schools in the group category. Winners received prizes including cash awards, gift cards, and items such as an Apple MacBook Pro and Apple Watch. County officials said the contest aims to raise awareness about distracted driving, citing national data showing thousands of fatalities each year linked to phone use behind the wheel.
You can view the winning videos and photos of the winners on the Heads Up, Phones Down contest website at montgomerycountymd.gov/hupd.
