2026 Video Contest
Welcome to the Shepherd Center’s 2026 Rural Roads Public Service Announcement Competition! We’re excited to invite students from participating Laurens County schools to create a 15‑second video PSA that promotes the importance of always wearing a seat belt on Georgia’s rural roads.
If you’re ready to share your creativity and make a positive impact, submit your entry by clicking the link. Remember the deadline is Monday, May 11th. Also, be sure to review the rules below on this page. Send all questions to emma.harrington@shepherd.org.
Contest Rules
PSA Competition Rules
- Format of Entries — All entries must be produced as a video public service announcement (PSA). All PSAs must include closed captioning.
- Topic Requirements — Each entry must focus on the benefits of always wearing a seat belt and asking others to wear one. Be creative in illustrating why always wearing a seat belt and asking others to wear one is important. Content must be of a positive nature. Any content that is of a negative nature will be disqualified. Please avoid using scare tactics or gruesome scenes.
- Length of Entries and Logo Use — The length of each PSA should be exactly 15 seconds and should be given a unique title. All videos submitted must include the following phrase: “Georgia Rural Roads It’s About Us.” Videos must also include the logos representing Georgia Rural Roads It’s About Us. These logos are provided on this page for download.
- Entrant Qualifications — Entrants must be currently enrolled in one of the following schools:
- Dublin High School
- East Laurens High School
- West Laurens High School
- Trinity Christian School
- Entry Teams — Each PSA must have one Lead Producer. While several students may work together on the project, it must be submitted under only one name, and any prizes will be awarded to the named Lead Producer only. Participants can choose to divide the prize on their own terms if they choose.
- No Entry Fee — There is no entry fee.
- One-Time Submission — Entries may be submitted for consideration one (1) time only. Once a video is submitted to Shepherd Center, that video becomes ineligible for submission into future Georgia Rural Roads It’s About Us Video Contests.
- Submission and Deadlines — Entries may be submitted through the GeorgiaRuralRoads.org website starting on Monday, March 2, 2026. The deadline for submissions is 11:59 PM on Monday, May 11, 2026. Winners and finalists will be contacted by Thursday, May 14, 2026 and will be announced on Monday, May 18, 2026.
- Format of Entries — All entries must be submitted in digital format. These files must be posted online via YouTube and a link will be listed on the entry form.
- Limitation on Assistance — No professional assistance is allowed. Non-students may assist with production but are limited to verbal guidance only. Non-students are allowed to be actors but not content contributors.
- Competition Judges — Shepherd Center will determine six (6) semi-finalists from the pool of entries. The six (6) semi-finalists’ entries will then be judged by an independent panel comprised of members of the Georgia Rural Roads It’s About Us Coalition. This panel will determine the top three (3) winners. The judges’ decision is final.
- Awards — The only compensation for submitting a video is the opportunity to be awarded a prize if the entry wins. Shepherd Center will pay filmmakers no additional compensation. Awards will be presented as follows:
- One (1) First Place winner: The video will be aired online via YouTube as part of outreach for the Georgia Rural Roads It’s About Us campaign, and the winner will receive an Apple Watch provided by Shepherd Center before the end date, Friday, May 15, 2026.
- Two (2) Second Place winners: The videos will be aired online via YouTube as part of outreach for the Georgia Rural Roads It’s About Us campaign, and each winner will receive an Apple Watch provided by Shepherd Center before the end date, Friday, May 15, 2026.
- Entrants Responsible for PSA — Students should keep at least one copy of their PSA. Shepherd Center is not responsible for any films that are lost, damaged, or that do not upload properly.
- Disqualification — Any entrant or entry that violates the Competition Attestation or these Rules will be disqualified.
Competition Attestation
By submitting an entry, the Competition entrant — and the entrant’s parent/guardian if the entrant is under age 18 — agree to the following:
- Competition entrants agree to be bound by the Attestation and follow the Competition Rules.
- The entrant certifies that the submitted PSA video is entirely original or includes only content the entrant has the legal right to use (e.g., licensed music, images, footage), and does not infringe on copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity, or any legal rights of others.
- While Competition entrants may own the copyright in their entries, as a condition of participation, entrant grants Shepherd Center a royalty-free, non-exclusive, irrevocable license to reproduce, publish, distribute, display, perform, and otherwise use the PSA for governmental and Shepherd Center purposes, and to authorize others to use the PSA for the same purposes. Shepherd Center may exercise these rights without further compensation or notice to the entrant.
- Entrant grants Shepherd Center and others with whom Shepherd Center works permission to use the entrant’s name, school, and likeness, and to display the PSA at educational events, on websites, at conferences, and through public information and education efforts.
- Entrant agrees to hold harmless and indemnify Shepherd Center from any and all claims arising out of the creation or submission of the PSA, use or display of the PSA under the granted license, or participation in the Competition.
- Entries must comply with all applicable laws and may not promote illegal activity; use gruesome, graphic, or fear-based content; support or express prejudice; advocate exploitation; violate rights established by law; invade the privacy of any person; or otherwise include inappropriate content as determined by Shepherd Center.