Meet the 2025 Intoxalock Drunk Driving Prevention Scholarship Finalists
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Nearly 600 students from nearly two dozen colleges and universities submitted entries for the annual Intoxalock® scholarship.
Ignition interlock devices are smart choices that can help save lives. That’s the story hundreds of students shared as part of the annual Intoxalock Drunk Driving Prevention Scholarship.
This scholarship recognizes inspiring students who are helping shape safer roadways by discussing the dangers of drunk driving. Nearly 600 students from 22 colleges and universities submitted entries to this year’s contest. Winners receive a combined $4,500 prize to help cover tuition, housing, or any education-related expense, as well as recognition on Intoxalock’s marketing channels.
We are pleased to share our three finalists for the 2025 Intoxalock Drunk Driving Prevention Scholarship:
- Winner: Adrianna Beliard, University of Bridgeport (CT)
- Runner-up: Chukwuma Ndive, Oregon State University
- Runner-up: Joshua Cutting, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
This year’s winners each submitted a short, self-produced video that highlights the dangers of drunk driving and demonstrates how Intoxalock ignition interlock devices help reduce impaired driving. Let’s see how they came up with their creative ideas.
Introducing Our 2025 Scholarship Winner: Adrianna Beliard
This year’s winner, Adrianna Beliard, is a driven sophomore at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut, majoring in Criminal Justice. She aspires to become a defense attorney after graduation.
Adrianna created the concept for her video along with her church family, who pushed her to bring the vision to life. The concept came from her own desire to promote road safety. As Adrianna puts it, “Road safety matters to me personally because when we get out on the road, it’s not just about us and our destination. It’s about how we drive and being cautious while on the road.”
Why Adrianna Stood Out from the Crowd
Adrianna’s video is relatable and speaks to an experience many of us have at one time or another: having a fun night out, thinking we’re okay to drive when maybe we’re not, and the power of friendship to keep us on the right track. In this case, handing the keys to someone sober. Sometimes, it’s the voice of someone we trust that helps us make the right decisions in life.
“It took me about four hours to come up with the script, do the shoot, and edit the video,” she shares. The result is a powerful video that shows how we can help create change just by caring for our friends and teaching them how to care for themselves.
Driving a Conversation About Drunk Driving
For Adrianna, the decision to apply for the scholarship is deeply personal.
“I applied for the Intoxalock scholarship because this meant a lot to me,” she says. “I know many people who have died in car accidents because of drunk drivers. I believe that Intoxalock will play a critical role in improving road safety, helping prevent impaired driving, and encouraging responsible decisions. Their commitment to protecting communities and reducing repeat offenses shows how innovative solutions can make a real difference.”
The Intoxalock Scholarship Impact
Adrianna earns $3,000 for her winning entry and says the scholarship will help ease her college financial commitments, giving her some breathing room to focus on her goals. “This scholarship will allow me to continue my education and become the first generation in my family to attend college,” she says. “I believe it will allow me to go further than what I thought I could achieve on my own!”
What’s Next for Adrianna?
After graduation, Adrianna plans to go to law school to achieve her dream of becoming a defense attorney. “I want to be a voice for the people,” she says. “People who don’t feel seen, have been shut down, or haven’t received justice.” She’s well on her way!
Learn More About the 2025 Intoxalock Scholarship Winner
Everyone at Intoxalock is so proud of Adrianna’s work and commitment to creating change in her community! To follow along on her journey, you can find Adrianna on Instagram at @theoneandonlyadrii, or on Facebook under Adrianna Beliard.
Chukwuma Ndive: Second Place Intoxalock Scholarship Winner
Our 2025 runner-up, Chukwuma Ndive, created a compelling video that shows how one choice can change everything. Chukwuma is a third-year student of chemical engineering at Oregon State University. His creative vision comes to life with a simple and direct message that really resonated with our judges. His commitment to always coming home safe to his family drove his submission.
“As someone who commutes to work daily, I make it a priority to leave the house and return safely,” Chukwuma says. “I have seen too many cases of road users getting involved in accidents caused by the recklessness of other drivers and seen the toll it takes on their families. This could either be the financial burden of an accident or the loss of a loved one. Ensuring my safety and that of other road users is something I take personally.”
What Made You Apply for the Intoxalock Scholarship?
Chukwuma applied for the scholarship to help expand the conversation around road safety and reduce DUI-related deaths.
“I see the potential and usefulness of the Intoxalock devices in reducing drunk driving and DUI-related offenses. I like the concept of the ignition interlock devices being used to fulfill a mandatory legal requirement,” he says. “By requiring drivers to take a breath test before driving, Intoxalock ensures compliance and reduces the risk of impaired driving. This is critical as it introduces an extra layer of protection. If alcohol is detected, your engine will not start, and you cannot drive. It is also personal to me, and I welcome any measure aimed at preventing drunk driving.”
How Did You Create the Concept for Your Video?
As with his decision to apply for the scholarship, Chukwuma’s inspiration for the story behind the video also came from a personal place. He thought about what it would be like if he went out with friends, got drunk, and attempted to drive home.
“I thought of all the things that could go wrong, from getting a DUI charge to getting in an accident,” Chukwuma notes. “I saw how one bad decision would alter the course of my life and everything I have worked hard to achieve up to this point. This was not a reality I wanted to live with.”
It took three days for Chukwuma to write, shoot, edit and voice his video. He walks away with $1,000 in prize money.
What’s Next for Chukwuma?
Once he completes his path in chemical engineering, Chukwuma plans to pursue a career in academia as a scientist in a national lab or take a path as a professor in a university where he can mentor students.
Meet our Intoxalock Scholarship Runner-Up: Joshua Cutting
Our final round of congrats goes to Joshua Cutting from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. As the third-place finisher, Joshua will receive $500.
A freshman with an aim of majoring in environmental engineering, Joshua was inspired to apply to the scholarship because he cares about promoting safer roads and raising awareness about the dangers of impaired driving. “It’s an opportunity to use creativity to share an important message while also helping support my education,” he adds.
Hard Numbers: Joshua’s Sobering Story
With striking visuals and kinetic energy accented by a strong voiceover laying out the facts, Joshua’s video brings a dose of realism to his compelling message of choosing safety after a night of drinking.
“Road safety matters to me because it impacts everyone,” he says. “One bad decision can affect not just the driver, but families and entire communities. Knowing that many accidents are preventable makes it important to spread awareness and encourage responsible choices.”
Joshua says Intoxalock plays a key role in preventing impaired driving, encouraging accountability, and stopping dangerous situations before they impact other drivers.
The Creative Process
Joshua’s choice to focus on visuals is intentional. “I came up with the concept by focusing on how powerful visuals can show the real consequences of impaired driving,” he says. “I wanted to create something that would make people stop and think, not just inform them.”
And the judges felt he succeeded on that front. All told, it took Joshua approximately three days to complete his video, which included writing, filming, recording, and editing.
Big Goals Await
Joshua now aims to focus on his studies, and his future. He plans to build his career in environmental engineering, focusing on creating solutions that improve public safety and sustainability. He also wants to help create systems that protect people and the environment, while continuing to grow and make a positive impact in his community. You can follow Joshua on Instagram at @bze.josh.
Meet the 2024 Intoxalock Scholarship Winner
Last year’s scholarship winner, Shawn Bulloch, blew our judges away with a thoughtful and compelling video highlighting education and communication as tools to drive change and reduce drunk driving. Shawn, a marketing major at the University of Georgia, created a moving story that stood out with emotional depth and creativity, showing how life’s biggest moments can be forever impacted by one careless decision that ends in a drunk driving crash. His PSA is a potent reminder that drunk driving claims lives and interrupts futures, and how devices like Intoxalock help to ensure road safety.
Past Intoxalock Drunk Driving Prevention Scholarship Winners
Kambria Cook from Arizona State University captured the crown in 2023. Her infectious video highlights her impressive musical abilities.
“I haven't had to research drunk driving before and I was not familiar with products like Intoxalock that can help reduce the amount of drunk drivers,” said Cook. “It was… fun to put together a jingle that I hope is like an earworm and informs people about drunk driving and using Intoxalock.”
In 2022, Angel Rodriguez, a student majoring in creative media and film at Northern Arizona University, created this winning submission.
“This scholarship gave me the opportunity to not only shed light on [drunk driving], but also create a narrative that could effectively engage the audience while also pulling at their heartstrings,” Rodriguez said at the time.
Why Intoxalock Sponsors the Drunk Driving Prevention Scholarship
At Intoxalock, we work hard to support the communities we serve and build our reputation as a leading provider of ignition interlock devices. Our decades of experience and first-hand knowledge of the devastating impact impaired driving can have on individuals, families, and communities inspires our mission to ensure safer roads through our scholarship program.
Our scholarship is an annual competition that invites students to put their creativity to work. We invite students to craft a 30- to 60-second Public Service Announcement (PSA) that addresses how drunk driving can negatively impact people’s lives and propose solutions that include an ignition interlock device. By encouraging the next generation to explore road safety thoughtfully and creatively, we aim to amplify these young voices and inspire them to take action as they raise awareness about the dangers of drunk driving.
Why Young Voices Matter in the Fight Against Drunk Driving
Drunk driving continues to be a serious public safety issue. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 11,904 people died in alcohol-impaired driving traffic deaths in 2024 alone. Once they reach college, students can face undue pressure to drive impaired, sometimes by their fellow peers. The more we can empower students to embrace road safety and create messages that support it, the more we can foster a culture of accountability, responsibility, and prevention.
“Every day, about 34 people in the United States die in drunk-driving crashes; that's one person every 42 minutes,” says Kathy Boden Holland, Chief Executive Officer of Mindr, parent company of Intoxalock. “What’s worse is the fact that car crashes are a leading cause of death for teens, and almost a third of young drivers killed in fatal crashes involved underage drinking.”
Congratulations to the Intoxalock Scholarship Winners
We’re so impressed by the visionary messages shared in the videos created by this year’s scholarship winners, and we’re so honored that so many people participated in the 2025 competition. Driven by their personal passion, commitment to their community, and boundless creativity, each one envisions a world where safer roads are possible, and how one moment of clarity can stop a drunk driving catastrophe. We hope they inspire you and encourage the next generation of advocates to participate next year.
Once again, we'd like to congratulate Adrianna Beliard, Chukwuma Ndive, and Joshua Cutting. Thank you for sharing your personal and powerful messages. You’re already changing the world!
For more information on how to apply for the Intoxalock Drunk Driving Prevention Scholarship, please visit our website.
Together, we can create safer roads and put an end to drunk driving.
