Area students roll on paint for ODOT plows

In an effort to enhance awareness and promote safety, the Ohio Department of Transportation - District 9 has extended a popular community outreach initiative to southern Ohio called “Paint the Plow.”

Paint the Plow is a program in which area high school students are invited to paint an ODOT snow plow blade with original artwork to represent their individual school. While the project was first introduced in ODOT’s District 4 last year, this is the first year for District 9 to sponsor its own program in the eight-county region that includes Adams, Brown, Highland, Jackson, Lawrence, Pike, Ross and Scioto counties.

“We believe this is a unique opportunity to promote the talent of our area’s young people, as well as provide a terrific learning experience and help make motorists more aware of ODOT,” said District 9 Deputy Director Vaughn Wilson.

In addition to being visible when in full service during the winter-weather months, the blades will be used at events within the school’s community not only to increase public awareness, but also to promote safety and foster greater appreciation of both ODOT and the local schools’ art programs.

This spring, fourteen schools from across District 9 participated in the project, including McClain High School in Highland County.

“We are really pleased with the response we received from the schools in our inaugural year of the program,” added Wilson. “It is apparent that we have some very talented student artists throughout the area, like those from McClain High School, and we really appreciate their efforts and creativity.”

As part of the district’s program, one plow will be selected from each county to be displayed at its respective county fair, and all schools will be recognized in ODOT’s fair booths this year with a photo display.

While a panel of judges comprised of ODOT staff and representatives from the private sector will determine the county winners, the competition will also include a “Facebook Fan Favorite,” which will be open to the general public on District 9’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ODOTDistrict9.

The number of “Likes” a plow blade receives combined with the score from the Judges’ Pick will determine the overall, districtwide winner, and this plow blade will be displayed at statewide events and the District 9 headquarters in Chillicothe.

Online voting for the Facebook Fan contest will begin the week of June 2 and continue through June 29, and the winning entries will be announced June 30.