High school students paint plow for PennDOT

From left to right: Emily Kiro, Ava deBruyn, Nora Kelley, Mira Owens, Shayna McDermott, Caroline Grimsley, Raina Guzman and teacher Joan Marangoni. Missing from the photo are Emilia Sutkowski and Lillian Salva.

Nine Fox Chapel Area High School students have painted a snowplow blade as part of PennDOT’s Paint the Plow Program. The program involves high school students designing original artwork and painting it on a snowplow blade that showcases the 2024 theme, “Use Your Reason When It’s Freezin’.” The snowplow blades are then used on PennDOT trucks throughout the winter season as they clean the roads.

Fox Chapel Area High School’s design was created by junior Caroline Grimsley. The other students who worked on the project were juniors Ava deBruyn, Raina Guzman, Nora Kelley, Shayna McDermott, Mira Owens and Emilia Sutkowski; and sophomores Emily Kiro and Lillian Salva. The project was overseen by Fox Chapel Area High School art teacher Joan Marangoni.

Additionally, two Fox Chapel Area High School graduates, Scott Lewis (Class of 1992) and Steve Leas (Class of 2001), will be driving the PennDOT truck featuring the Fox Chapel Area High School painted plow. The plow will be able to be seen on their route, which is on Route 28 between the 31st Street Bridge and RIDC Park in O’Hara Township, and on all the ramps in between that area.

Photos of each snowplow blade will be posted on a PennDOT statewide online platform where they can be viewed. Additionally, one plow will be chosen as a winner through a “Judges’ Pick” award. Another winner will be chosen as a “Fan Favorite” through an online voting system in December.

The Paint the Plow Program was started in 2015 and includes students from most counties around the state. The program is a way for PennDOT and local communities to cultivate awareness and promote winter driving safety on state roadways.