The Husband & Wife Law Team Scholarships 2026

2026 Arizona Scholarship Winner: Lianna Gebru

Our winner from Arizona is Lianna Gebru, pursuing a double major in psychology and neuroscience at Arizona State University. She is planning to continue her education toward a doctorate in neuropsychology. You can read her essay below!

#ArriveAlive: The “Passenger Mode” Movement

Distracted driving continues because, for many people my age, using a phone behind the wheel still feels normal, and sometimes even expected. To change behavior, we need to change culture. My idea is a social media–driven movement called “Passenger Mode.”

The concept is simple: when you start driving, you switch your phone into “Passenger Mode,” a setting (or symbolic action) where notifications are silenced and a lock screen message appears saying, “I’m driving. I’ll respond when I arrive. #ArriveAlive.” Participants would post short videos before driving, showing themselves activating Passenger Mode, then tagging friends to do the same.

To make this trend spread, I would pair it with a school-wide challenge. Students who consistently participate could earn rewards like parking perks, school recognition, or entries into raffles. More importantly, we would highlight stories, students sharing why they chose Passenger Mode, especially if they’ve been personally affected by distracted driving. This adds emotional weight and makes the message more real.

Social pressure is powerful. If Passenger Mode becomes the “cool” and responsible thing to do, then not using it becomes what stands out in a negative way. Just like wearing a seatbelt is now automatic, we can make distraction-free driving the new norm.

The goal isn’t just awareness, it’s habit formation. By turning a simple safety action into a visible, shareable movement, Passenger Mode encourages accountability, community, and consistency. If enough people adopt it, we can shift the mindset from “I’ll just check one message” to “I’ll wait, because my life and others’ lives matter.”

Because arriving safely should always be the trend.

2026 New Mexico Scholarship Winner: Johnny Montano

Our winner from New Mexico is Johnny Montano. This New Mexico resident, headed to Hawaii Pacific University, is making safe driving the most fun you can have with your phone locked away. You can read his essay below!

#ArriveAlive: The “CyberCritter” Movement

What if safe driving was fun, rewarding, and even provided content for social media?

Inspired by the 90s Tamagotchi virtual pet, my idea is a mobile app where drivers care for a digital pet, “CyberCritter,” that depends on their safe driving habits to thrive. When users drive without distractions, they earn virtual coins, rewards, and upgrades. Coins can be used to buy items for their “CyberCritter,” like food, clothes, cars, and even unlocking new worlds. However, if a driver becomes distracted by texting, answering calls, or scrolling on social media, their “CyberCritter” becomes unhappy and can even get sick.

Users have to spend their earned coins on medicine or vet visits, making them feel responsible and think twice before driving distracted.

The app also tracks excessive and aggressive driving. Smooth, controlled driving results in a happy and healthy “CyberCritter,” while harsh braking or speeding makes the “CyberCritter” unhappy or sick. This encourages safer driving habits.

To make safe driving “cool,” the app includes a social media platform called “Petiverse,” where users can share their progress. “Petiverse” hosts weekly safe driving challenges, such as completing five distraction-free trips or maintaining a high smooth-driving score for three days. Users earn bonus coins and exclusive upgrades for participating. The app also features challenges like the “Sweet Spot Challenge,” where drivers earn rewards for staying within the speed limit, creating motivation to drive the speed limit.

Using emotional connection to their “CyberCritter,” coins, rewards, upgrades, and social media sharing, my idea encourages drivers to think twice before using their phones, helping to build safer habits and creating safer roads for everyone.

2026 National Scholarship Winner: Diana Garcia Martinez

Our national winner is Diana Garcia Martinez! Diana is a graduating senior from Arkansas, who is starting her college career this Fall at the University of Arkansas.

#ArriveAlive: "The Ghost Drive Challenge"

As a high school senior who has observed the commitment of my peers to the traditional "Senior Assassin" game, I have come to the conclusion that the best way to end distracted driving amongst my peers is with a challenge and a prize. Therefore, I have come up with the Ghost Drive Challenge.

At the beginning of each school year, it is expected for high school students who own a car to purchase a parking pass. Therefore, any high school student who has purchased a parking pass is able to participate. All interested students who have purchased said parking pass will need to pay a $5 entry fee to the student organizer. The student organizer can be anonymous or elected. Students should be given a deadline to enter the challenge.

The student organizer will then create a GroupMe chat with all participants. After the deadline has passed, the student organizer will ask all participants to download the Canary safety driving app. This app was chosen because it is compatible with Apple and Android phones. The Canary app will allow the student organizer to connect their phone with the participants, and will send alerts if the student is using their phone while driving and exceeding the preset speed limit.

If a student has used their phone while driving, the student will be posted on the Instagram page as "busted" and will be asked to pay a $2 fee that will be added to the total prize. This challenge will end before the last day of the senior class, and the winner will be the participant with the least amount of "busted" posts. In case of a tie, the winner will be the participant with the best speed tracking record or an alternative tie breaker can be made by the student organizer.

Congratulations to Lianna, Johnny, and Diana! We can't wait to see what you accomplish with your education.