The 2024-25 VANTAGE Multimedia Communications students at Minnetonka High School have been honored with the Emerging Leader Award by Minnesota’s Toward Zero Deaths (TZD) initiative for their outstanding collaboration with the South Lake Minnetonka and City of Minnetonka police departments.

As part of their real-world learning experience, students created a series of compelling public service announcements (PSAs) addressing critical traffic safety issues, such as distracted driving, speeding, road rage and drowsy driving. Their work was honored for demonstrating technical skill, creativity and a strong commitment to community well-being.

The TZD Emerging Leader Award celebrates young changemakers who use vision, leadership and communication to promote safer roads. The students’ PSAs were featured on social media channels for the Highway 7 Safety Coalition, the Minnesota Office of Traffic Safety and Department of Public Safety, and on Kwik Trip gas pump screens—reaching a wide range of Minnesotans.

VANTAGE Multimedia teachers Paul Olson and Kelley Mosiman shared their pride in the way students used their learning about objectives, messaging and audience reaction to collaborate with police and create original PSAs that showcased their storytelling skills and supported traffic safety.

According to TZD, the students’ work is already making an impact—and may help save lives.

“This project is a powerful example of what happens when students are given the opportunity to apply their learning in meaningful, real-world contexts,” shared Brooke McMaster, Assistant Principal for Experiential Learning at Minnetonka High School. “Through collaboration with police department partners, students deepened their communication skills and made a tangible impact on public safety.”

Congratulations to our VANTAGE students for using their voices and talents to lead with purpose and create real change.