NEW SALEM — The kindergarten class at Swift River School has been named a District 2 winner in the state Department of Transportation’s third annual “Name a Snowplow” contest.

A 6-year-old boy named Teddy Koonz in Rachael Basdekis’ class came up with the name “Control-Salt-Delete” and a snowplow with that name visited the school on Wednesday morning.

“This name combines the fact Teddy thought it was funny that people use the phase ‘my computer froze’ when it is not working, the fact he found it fascinating as a kid that we put salt on our roads to help them be safe to drive on, and the fact [that 5- and 6-year-olds] love how words can rhyme!” Jennifer Koonz, who works in the classroom as a specialist and helped the students enter the contest, wrote in an email. “He has a good sense of humor and thought it was silly you could control the snow, salt the snow and delete the snow from the roads.

“In general, the kids love big machines and the fact one of the really large snowplows they see out on the highways is coming to visit them is very exciting!” she added.

Koonz explained teachers at Swift River School heard about the contest in the news and shared the idea with their students, who were told to come up with names they liked. The annual contest is open to all public elementary and middle school students in Massachusetts.

“It is exciting to think that our small school with only about 130 students was selected as one of the winners,” Koonz said.

In addition to Swift River School, there were 11 other contest winners across the state. A selection panel made up of MassDOT employees chose two winners located within each of the six Highway Division districts. The winning submissions were evaluated based on two grade-level categories: kindergarten through fourth grade and fifth grade through eighth grade. Swift River School was the only winner in Franklin County this year.

“Maintaining safe and clear roads across Massachusetts during winter is no easy task. We appreciate how educators are engaging their students in this fun competition that honors this vital public service,” Transportation Secretary and CEO Monica Tibbits-Nutt said in a statement. “Congratulations to the winning classrooms and we look forward to seeing your snowplows out in the field.”

“This contest is a great way for schools across the state to connect with the crews who work tirelessly to keep our roads clear each winter,” Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver said in a statement. “Thank you to everyone who took part in this contest and congratulations to our winners.”

The full list of winning snowplow names can be viewed at mass.gov/news/massdot-announces-the-winners-of-the-2024-name-a-snowplow-contest.

Reach Domenic Poli at: dpoli@recorder.com or 413-930-4120.