Frieda Hartung, a senior at Butler Senior High School, concentrates Thursday as she starts the driving segment of the Safe Driving Competition at Butler County Community College.

BUTLER TWP — Two Butler County students took the top spots at a safe driving competition Thursday afternoon at Butler County Community College.

Yasmeen Manyisha, safety press officer for Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, said the event fostered a better awareness of safe driving through practice.

Students from 10 area high schools, including Butler, Karns City, Knoch, Mars, Moniteau, Seneca Valley, Slippery Rock, Ellwood City, Laurel and New Castle school districts competed for the prizes.

Chelsey Dodds from Karns City High School won first place and received $1,000; Frieda Hartung from Butler Area High School took second place, winning $500; and in third place was Sasha Armstrong from Union Area High School who won $250.

The winner of the team prize, Karns City High School, will receive a $500 donation.

As the first and second place winners, Dodds and Hartung will travel to the state competition on May 7 in Camp Hill to compete for $10,000 in scholarships.

Manyisha said all the students received valuable support in their driving skills to carry into their future.

Dodds said the tractor-trailer demonstration was also helpful to her. She said it gave her a better understanding of what truck drivers can see, and was surprised at how limited the field of view was.

Nancy Hunter Mycka, vice president of the Board of Pennsylvania Motor Truck Association, one of the event's sponsors, said the truck was well-received by the students.

A full story appears in the Butler Eagle.