Audra Hamlin’s fish story hooked the top video prize in the 16th annual Arrive Alive Creative Contest, sponsored by the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein. The contest asks students to come up with a creative message about the dangers of drinking and driving and/or distracted driving.

The Fryeburg Academy graduate’s stop motion video won first place for depicting how drinking impacts your ability to make wise decisions. The Stoneham resident was honored among the Top 20 winners statewide during a Zoom ceremony on June 25.  

In addition to celebrating the contest’s winners, the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein donated $50 per Honorable Mention winner to a library or food bank in each graduate's hometown. A total of $5,050 was donated to 20 nonprofit organizations throughout Maine.

The Arrive Alive Creative Contest is open to graduating high school seniors in Maine who may enter a creative project of their choice. First-place winners receive a new laptop, second and third-place winners receive a new iPad, and every student who enters receives fun prizes from the law firm. Since 2005, over 1,000 graduating seniors have entered the contest from 125 Maine high schools.

A complete set of rules and all past winning entries can be viewed online at: www.arrivealivecreativecontest.com or on Facebook.

In the past 16 years, the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein has given away over $150,000 in prizes to help educate teenagers on the risks of dangerous driving. The firm’s dedication to the Arrive Alive Creative Contest made them a finalist for the American Association for Justice Trial Lawyers Care Award in 2014.

Over the past 16 years, the Arrive Alive Creative Contest has received more than 1,000 entries from over 125 Maine high schools.

“We are proud to have helped educate so many Mainers in their most formative driving years and salute these creative teenagers. Our hope is that these entries continue to influence drivers of all ages for years to come,” organizers said.

Audra’s one-minute, 32-second video clip is entitled, One Day on the H20. The screen includes a boat and Swedish (candy) fish below the water line. The dialogue unfolds as follows:

It’s a good day for fishing

10 minutes later

Swedish fish below water line

Hey, watch it.

Oh, it’s just you Sully

Why are you swimming so bad today?

I’m not swimming badly

You’ve been drinking, haven’t you?

Oh fine, my parents migrated early this year so we can drink as much as we want

You should be more careful, drinking impacts your vision, balance and judgment

There are many fishermen out today

Yeah, whatever, no it’s really fine

(Something disturbs the surface, black screen)

Oh, I’m fine…lunch (hook with a worm on it)

Oh no, that’s clearly a trap

Oh, it’s really fine

Oh, I think we’ve got one (fisherman above)

Yeah, It’s a sucker, a big sucker!

Music and mini car swerving, inside the car fishermen with red fish in the middle of the seat

Stay safe

Arrive alive

Black screen

Don’t be a sucker!

Stay safe! Arrive alive!

Each year communities in Maine are devastated by tragic accidents, often involving teenagers.

“At the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein, we see firsthand the end results and the pictures they paint are never pretty. Drinking and driving has long been a problem throughout Maine and across America. Teenagers have heard about the dangers, yet it continues to happen on a regular basis. Too often it takes a tragedy for teenagers to realize the inherent dangers of drinking and driving, but by then it’s too late,” posted on the law firm’s website. “Today, more than ever, drivers are distracted despite the 2019 Maine law banning mobile phones and electronic handheld devices while driving. Cell phones, GPS devices, tablets and laptop computers are ubiquitous, along with other dangerous distractions such as eating, drinking, brushing teeth and applying makeup. All are equally dangerous when driving and all are distracting to the task at hand: getting from point A to point B safely.”

In an attempt to put an end to teenage drinking and driving and teenage distracted driving, the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein is asking high school students to take initiative and showcase their innovation.

“We want graduating seniors to help send the message to their peers: ‘Stay Safe – Arrive Alive!’ High school students have their whole lives ahead of them. Don’t let a single moment or mistake get in the way of your future plans. And most importantly, don’t let a single moment or mistake make you a statistic,” the website message continued.