From left are Brianna Hafetz, 18, of Linwood; Natalie Campbell, 18, of Northfield; Will McDonnell, 18, of Linwood; Jessica Mann, 17, of Northfield; Kelly Marks, 17, Northfield; Jenn Eisenberg, 18, of Linwood; Sen. Jim Whelan; John Brennan and Emily Notaro, both 18, of Northfield; Mike Anderson, 18, and Donnie Kneisel, 17, of Linwood; and teacher Jaclyn Roesch. LINWOOD – Mainland Regional High School students are banding together again in a quest to win a corporate contest and ultimately $40,000.

Organized by National Honor Society member and senior Jenn Eisenberg of Linwood, they are participating in the ActOutLoud.org contest, a campaign aimed at informing people of the dangers of texting while driving.

The school kicked off the campaign Friday, Feb. 3 with Sen. Jim Whelan, who pledged his support. Sponsored by Allstate Insurance, the contest requires the students to gather pledges, create T-shirts and signs, and set up a Facebook page as a place to gather nationwide votes. The winner will be announced May 16.

On Friday Whelan, students and staff members inked their thumbprints on a banner and took a pledge not to text and drive. The banner will be hung in the school lobby.

Eisenberg said she received information on the dangers of texting while driving when she got her license, but the messages were not as strong as today.

“There’s more education out there now,” she said.

Eisenberg said she is hoping for 90 percent of the student body to pledge.

“The campaign is going great now that everyone in the school is aware of it,” she said.  “We have lots of support and people wanting to help out. Our focus now is on the first round of the competition, which is to design the T-shirt.”

Students picked up copies of worksheets on which they can suggest a shirt design for consideration.

If the school wins the contest, the funds will be earmarked for the annual after-prom party.

“Prom night is the deadliest night of the year,” Eisenberg said. “So the more money we can raise to make after prom better and buy more prizes, the safer everyone will be. When the students work together, we’ve discovered that we can make a difference.”

Whelan said he had faith in the ability of the students at the school to rally together for the contest.

“I wish our legislative system ran as efficiently,” he said.

Donnie Kneisel, 17, of Linwood and John Brennan, 18, of Northfield are part of the National Honor Society chapter that is organizing the campaign. Principal Mark Marrone pledges not to text while driving.