Sam & Ash Injury Law Announces Winners of the 2025 Safe Teen Driving Essay Contest
Sam & Ash Injury Law is proud to announce the winners of the 2025 Avoid the Crash with Sam & Ash Safe Teen Driving Essay Contest. The contest is a statewide initiative dedicated to promoting road safety among Nevada’s young drivers. After receiving more than 400 thoughtful, creative, and tear-jerking submissions from students aged 16–22 across Nevada, our team has selected three standout essays that powerfully highlight the importance of responsible driving.
The contest ran from August through October 31 and encouraged teens to share 400-500 words of personal reflection on what safe driving means to them, and why it matters. The response was overwhelming, with entries pouring in from Las Vegas to Reno, showcasing the passion and awareness of Nevada’s upcoming young drivers.
Meet the 2025 Winners
- GRAND PRIZE: River Schenk, Boulder City High School River receives a brand-new 2025 Volkswagen Jetta Sport, generously provided by Sam & Ash Injury Law and our partner Findlay Volkswagen. River’s essay stood out for its heartfelt tribute to Rex Patchett, River’s best friend who tragically lost his life because of a reckless driver.
- SECOND PLACE: Jazmin Castro, UNLV Jazmin earns a $5,000 scholarship to support her educational goals, recognizing her thoughtful exploration of distracted driving’s impact through the creative ‘point of view’ portrayed in her essay.
- THIRD PLACE: Zaavie Broadbent, CSN Zaavie receives $1,000 cash and a brand-new 13-inch MacBook Air for his honest and inspiring take on peer influence and road safety.
“We read every single entry, and the maturity and commitment these students showed blew us away,” said Ashley Watkins, co-founder of Sam & Ash Injury Law. “This contest isn’t just about prizes, it’s about sparking conversations that save lives. We’re grateful to our partners who made these incredible awards possible.”
A special thank you to our sponsors: Findlay Volkswagen, Zero Fatalities, Nevada Donor Network, Clark County School District (CCSD), and Silver State Schools Credit Union. Their support helped amplify this message of driver safety across Nevada.
The winners were celebrated on December 18, 2025 at an awards ceremony at Boulder City High School. Be sure to check the Sam & Ash Injury Law blog and social channels, as well as local news, for photos, videos, highlights from the essays, and more.
At Sam & Ash Injury Law, our job is to protect our community — on and off the road.
If you’ve been affected by a crash, we’re here to fight for you, because you deserve What’s Right. Call (702) 820-1234 or visit samandashlaw.com.
