A Paterson teen is believed to have been the first student from New Jersey to win a national transportation poster contest.

Bryan Torres-Tavares is a junior at STARS Academy. He won $500 for his first-prize poster for the National Association for Pupil Transportation poster contest. The contest is held annually as part of National School Bus Safety Week.

“Bryan’s one of the best art students I’ve ever had. He’s very committed and dedicated to his art,” says teacher Tawnya Stojakovic. “He thought it was important, and he did his best to convey the message.”

The theme for this year’s contest was “Red light means stop.”