Ashley Bryant has many good ideas; some are more creative than others.

Not all of them take on lives of their own. Not all of them positively affect other people. Not all of them end up on billboards.

Not all of them win No Excuses Youth Traffic Safety Billboard Design contests.

"I think it's cool," said Ashley, a recent graduate of Manheim Township High School (MTHS). "I never really thought I was going to win. But now that I have, and when I reflect on it, I hope it impacts other people. I hope the message sticks with other people."

Recently, Ashley's "Put it down. Keep it down." design was recognized as the winning entry in the annual No Excuses Youth Traffic Safety Billboard Design contest, which is sponsored by York County's Center for Traffic Safety. For her efforts, Ashley received $100 in prize money and earned $2,000 for MTHS.

"To me, the message means put your phone down and keep it down," said Ashley. "When you're driving, anything can happen in a second. People think it's only one second. The phone can wait until you are in a safe place."

Ashley's winning entry was created as part of an assignment in Courtney Hauer's Interactive Media Design class, which focuses on creating moving and still graphics. Students were afforded an opportunity to enter their class assignments for consideration in the No Excuses Youth Traffic Safety Billboard Design contest.

"One of the assignments in her class was making a billboard," Ashley shared. "She explained that there was a contest and that we could enter. I wasn't considering it. But after I made it, I was like, 'Why not? There's no reason not to.'"

"In early March, Mrs. Hauer told me she wanted to see me," added Ashley, recalling the moment she found out her design had been chosen. "When she told me, I was surprised, but I was also excited and happy I won."

On May 15 during a brief ceremony, Ashley's "Put it down. Keep it down." design was unveiled to the public on a billboard located along Harrisburg Pike in Lancaster. The billboard will be up for a month.

Ashley's "Put it down. Keep it down." design effectively combined elements of visuals and language, and her impactful message was both short and to the point. In between the two phrases, Ashley inserted an image of her phone safely tucked away between the front seats of her car.

"I remember that Mrs. Hauer gave us a few different prompts," said Ashley. "The distracted driving one really spoke to me. I just realized how important it is in the lives of teens. I was considering one other idea. I sketched up a rough draft for it. It was about arriving safely. ( 'Put it down. Keep it down.') just came to me naturally."

"I do remember (Mrs. Hauer) saying that the best phrases are usually not long phrases," Ashley added. "She gave us advice to keep it under seven words. 'Put it down. Keep it down.' came to me because it was right to the point."

While Ashley's design was directed toward her peers, the "Put it down. Keep it down." message applies to drivers of all ages.

"I do see (distracted driving) sometimes, yes, but across all ages," said Ashley. "I think it's a pretty big problem for all ages. I'm around younger people, and I see it a lot. I think it's important to relate to them that it can be dangerous."

Ashley has been operating a motor vehicle for more than two years.

"I do consider myself a safe driver," said Ashley. "I always wear my seatbelt. With my phone, I try to put it away until I'm parked. I really pay attention to speed limits as well."

During her time at MTHS, Ashley played softball and played the flute in the school's band program, and she was active in National Honor Society and Tri-M Music Honor Society. Ashley's future plans include attending Messiah University, where she intends to major in digital media, with a concentration in film and video studies, and play softball.