NJM-BIANJ Celebrating 15 Years of Champion Schools Program

For the 15th consecutive year, NJM Insurance Group is partnering with the Brain Injury Alliance of New Jersey (BIANJ) to host the U Got Brains Champion Schools Program. The program was created to challenge New Jersey high school teens to develop creative projects that encourage safe driving among their peers.

Students and staff work to create original campaigns during the school year around teen driving safety using social media, video, blogs, traditional media or other methods to help spread their message. Each school’s project is based on a chosen teen driving safety topic.

The program’s goal is to encourage New Jersey high school students to increase teen driving safety awareness among their classmates to help reduce teen driving injuries and deaths. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration, motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States.

“What started as an idea to reduce the growing number of deaths and serious crashes among new drivers has grown into a statewide network of over 200 high schools,” said Wendy Berk, BIANJ vice president. “We are grateful to long-term sponsors like NJM for helping make this program possible.”

The competition culminates with an in-person awards showcase in May at Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, N.J., to celebrate all participating schools. The top three schools each receive a cash prize, courtesy of NJM. Participating schools receive a cash stipend and technical support for their campaigns, while their teacher advisors earn professional development hours.

“NJM’s partnership with BIANJ has inspired students to promote a culture of safety within their schools,” said Erica Rosso, NJM consumer safety partnership and program supervisor. “This contest amplifies the power of their voices and their influence in raising awareness to end distracted driving and preventable injuries and deaths.”

NJM launched its own nationally recognized, award-winning Teen Driver Safety Program in 2013. Since then, interactive presentations have been delivered to more than 190,000 students.

NJM Insurance Group’s Commitment to Safety

NJM’s enduring commitment to safety can be traced back to our earliest days — with a focus that has expanded from improving conditions in manufacturing facilities to helping keep customers safe on the roads and at home. NJM is a leader in personal and commercial auto, homeowners, and workers’ compensation insurance.