While on the road this winter you'll want to keep a sharp eye out for not only snow and ice, but also some artistic plows that will be hitting the streets.

Several local schools are taking part in this year's 'Paint the Plow' program put on by the Ohio Department of Transportation.

The competition allows schools and non-profit organizations to paint an ODOT snowplow blade with messages of safety, patriotism, and community pride.

Hubbard High School students took the competition to heart and made it their mission to 'plow away cancer.'

Their plow that will be submitted into the competition honors the memory of Melina Michelle Edenfield, a local four year-old who lost her battle to a deadly pediatric brain tumor.

“My wife and I are friends with Melina’s parents.  So, when it came time to decide on a design this year, I knew I wanted to honor Melina’s courageousness.  Of course, my students were on board with the idea," said Art Teacher Josh MacMillan.  "So, we got to work on designing the plow to bring awareness to the Melina Michelle Edenfield Foundation, which raises money in an effort to find a cure for terminal pediatric brain tumors."

 

The hope is that as people see the plow traveling, they will become curious and will search online for Melina's name. Then they will learn more about her story and the cause.

“The Edenfield family has been raising funds in honor of Melina from the moment they could so that no other family has to go through what they did with her passing.  I can’t think of a stronger or more positive family," said MacMillan.

Pictures of the painted plows will be uploaded to the ODOT District 4 Facebook Page near the end of November. The pictures with the most 'likes' will win the competition.

Valley districts will compete against schools in Ashtabula, Trumbull, Mahoning, Portage, Summit and Stark Counties. ODOT plans to use all of the painted plows on area roadways.

In all, seven schools in Mahoning County plan to enter and nine in Trumbull County.

If Hubbard’s plow picture receives over 1,000 likes, MacMillian said he will donate $100 to the Melina Michelle Edenfield Foundation.