Mars Area School District has selected its winning entries in the District’s 2025 Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) School Bus Safety Poster Contest.

In Division 1, open to students in Grades K-2, first-grader Harper Mahon took first place; second-grader Allegra Duran, second place; and first-grader Hailey Ferlic, third place. In Division 2 (3-5), fourth-grader Anastasia Trombulak received first place; third-grader Brooke Vukovich, second place; third-grader Felicity Williams, third place. The first place winners’ entries will be submitted to the 2025 PennDOT School Bus Safety Poster Contest.

Honorable Mention were awarded to fourth-grader Gavin Toth; third-graders Rowan Barbish and Sadie Vaccaro; second-grader Cara Stoy; first-graders Sienna Meier, Shane Miller and Aspen Waldschmidt; and, kindergartners Cooper Baumcratz, Kinsley Cross and Adeline Thiry.

All District winners will be recognized during an Awards Ceremony to be held during National School Bus Safety Week (October) at the beginning of the 2025-2026 School Year. And, the students’ posters will be displayed in the Board Room at the District’s Administration Office.

The annual PennDOT contest asked students to design and submit a poster on this year’s contest theme, “Safety First — Safety Always.” For more information, contact Tina Smith, Director of Transportation, at (724) 625-1518 or visit PennDOT School Bus Safety Poster Contest Details.