View Photos of Winners
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) today announced the student winners of a School Safety Contest sponsored by the Long Island Rail Road (LIRR’s) Together Railroads and Communities Keeping Safe (T.R.A.C.K.S.) Program.
This year’s contest focus was designing an activity book. Hundreds of entries from across Long Island and Queens submitted creative and engaging designs in the categories of Elementary, Middle and High Schools. A panel of LIRR Safety Liaisons from various departments voted for their favorite entries based on clarity of message and creative excellence in designs, with winners receiving the highest vote totals.
“I thank all the students and teachers who worked hard on their designs and look forward to the great work I’m sure will be submitted next school year.” said Long Island Rail Road Interim President and Metro-North Railroad President, Catherine Rinaldi. “Finding engaging, age-friendly ways to teach kids how to respect and ride the Long Island Rail Road not only can be fun for the kids, but also helps keep everyone safe.”
2023 Winners Include:
Elementary School
• Uma Pal Hafeez, 2nd Grade of Village Elementary School, Syosset, taught by Ms. Kane, Coloring Picture
Middle School
• Alysiana Montanez, 7th Grade of Oregon Middle School, Medford, taught by Mrs. Poulis, Word Search
High School
• Zoey Chiu, 9th Grade of Syosset High School, Syosset, taught by Mrs. Mihalatos, Word Scramble
T.R.A.C.K.S. is a joint venture between LIRR’s Corporate Safety Department and the MTA Police Department that works to enhance awareness of safety within stations, on board trains and near tracks. T.R.A.C.K.S. hosts age-appropriate training to schools, camps, day cares, libraries, and community groups. It has sponsored a School Safety Contest since 2016 – 2017 school year.
T.R.A.C.K.S began in response to a tragedy that occurred in 1982 where a van carrying ten teenagers drove around a safety gate and collided with a train resulting in nine fatalities. Since then, T.R.A.C.K.S. has taught countless kids and teens how to safely engage with the transit system and the potentially life-threatening cost of breaking rail safety rules.