The very first public service announcements aired during WWII. Decades later, they continue to serve as powerful reminders to the public.

Since 2003, the KDMF (Katie DeCubellis Memorial Fund) has held an annual writing contest, and for the past four years AAA Northeast has joined forces with the KDMF as corporate sponsor of the contest with a top prize of $1,000. This year the nonprofit that raises awareness about the dangers of drinking and distracted driving wants to put a new twist on the contest. The DeCubellis family lost their young daughter after she was struck by a drunken driver. This year they are asking high school students to get smart with their smart phones and create a 30-second public service announcement that could air on TV and social media.

"For many years, we had great success with our statewide annual creative writing contest, in which hundreds of students statewide submitted entries on various topics that focused on making good decisions, KDMF President Joel Chase said. Today, with all the advances in technology, and the ability of most students to use smart phones to shoot video, we thought this would be a great way to change things up and create a new level of interest. In addition to monetary prizes, the winning PSA carries the possibility of airing on TV. The KDMF will ask members of the local media to make final selections and are asking students to create a 30-second positive video that reminds motorists to drive responsibly.

The KDMF has produced a series of PSAs that include former NBA player Chris Herren, URI Basketball Coach Dan Hurley, Providence College Basketball Coach Ed Cooley and Middleweight Boxing Champion Peter Manfredo. Those PSAs aired hundreds of times on WPRI, WJAR, MTV, HGTV and Lifetime, as well as on the Jumbotrons at Providence College and URI basketball games. The KDMF is hoping to get the winner's PSA on TV and it will also be used on its website and social media.

"We, at KDMF, have had experience with public service announcements, as we had a PSA campaign that was very successful. Professional athletes and college coaches joined forces with us to raise awareness about driving under the influence. Our PSAs aired on TV, radio and arena Jumbotrons," said Chase.

The rules will be posted on the Katie DeCubellis Memorial website. In order for the PSAs to possibly air on TV, they need to be shot on a smart phone or other device that shoots in high definition.

The KDMF has purchased the rights to a specific piece of music that students need to use if they choose to have music in the PSA. An MP3 link will be made available at the KDMF website. All PSAs must end with the KDMF logo that can be downloaded from the KDMF website. Anyone appearing in the PSA must sign a release form that can also be downloaded at the KDMF website. The creators of the PSA must submit the release form with their entry packet. The finished PSA video can be sent through www.wetransfer.com or to the email address of joel@jchaselaw.com. Participants should clearly label their video submission including contact information and should also send their submission and release forms to joel@jchaselaw.com.

The deadline for entries is March 30. A ceremony will be held Monday, May 22, at 7 p.m. at Warwick Mall to announce this year's winners. Television reporter/WPRO radio anchor and children's book author Laura Clarizio of Cranston will emcee the event.

"We hope that high school students throughout the state take advantage of the opportunity to create PSAs, not only to win monetary prizes and possibly to have the PSA aired on TV, but also to join in our efforts to encourage people to make good decisions and to discourage drunk and distracted driving," Chase said.