Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General issued the following announcement on Dec. 29.
Attorney General Josh Shapiro announces the winners of the Office of Attorney General’s 24th Annual Drug-Free Calendar Contest.
Fifth-grade students throughout the commonwealth were invited to create original artwork with a drug-free message during National Substance Abuse Prevention Month in October. From the entrants, 13 students’ artwork were selected to appear in the 2021 calendar, which is circulated throughout the commonwealth to educate the public about the dangers of drug use and the benefits of being drug free.
“Our annual calendar contest is about students empowering other young people to make smart choices,” Attorney General Shapiro said. “Even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, my office has never let our focus drop from the struggles and lives the opioid epidemic steals from our Commonwealth each year. Combatting the opioid epidemic means educating children about the real dangers of substance abuse, and the benefits of being drug free. The calendar contest helps spread these messages across our commonwealth.”
Each calendar month is represented with artwork of a Pennsylvania student, with one additional student illustration on the front of the calendar. The winning entries were chosen based on the artists’ creativity and ability to illustrate and convey a drug-free message. Each student will receive a certificate and a $529 contribution to their Pennsylvania 529 College Savings Program, which is supervised by the Pennsylvania Treasury Department.
“Every child in Pennsylvania deserves a bright future, and deserves to be free from weights like the opioid crisis and the student debt crisis. This program manages to help in both of those areas,” said Treasurer Torsella. “Even as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, my office has never let our focus drop from the struggles and lives the opioid epidemic steals from our Commonwealth each year. These kids have the potential to be leaders among their classmates, and to show their peers how they can stay on the right track. And these deposits into a PA 529 account will make a big impact in helping these young leaders afford the future they deserve. My congratulations to these winners, and I speak for everyone in the Department of Treasury when I say that we can’t wait to see what you do next.”
The calendar contest is funded through the Community Drug Abuse Prevention Fund. Fines and penalties collected from certain offenses, such as driving under the influence, contribute to the fund.
The following students were named 2021 Drug-Free Calendar Contest winners:
Cover: Filippa Zwirschitz, Home School, Cumberland County
January: Keira Assalone, South Saint Marys Street Elementary, Elk County
February: Braden Venuto, Visitation BVM School, Montgomery County
March: Jeffery Ickes, Chestnut Ridge Middle School, Bedford County
April: Reagan Stallman, Forbes Road School, Fulton County
May: Isabella Glover, Commonwealth Charter Academy, Fayette County
June: Amélie Staron, Saints Simon and Jude School, Chester County
July: Aubrey Wadsworth, Ramsay Elementary School, Westmoreland County
August: Nathaniel Mohney, Paxtonia Elementary School, Dauphin County
September: John Cunnane, St. James Regional Catholic School, Delaware County
October: Mary Solga, Blue Mountain Elementary East, Schuylkill County
November: Sage Mahan, Mars Centennial School, Butler County
December: Cheyan Bashjian, Reamstown Elementary, Lancaster County
The Office of Attorney General offers educational programs to help schools and parents empower children with knowledge to keep them safe. Due to the pandemic, the OAG has migrated its in-school programs to a virtual format. From internet safety to drug abuse prevention to bullying, these unique programs feature customized lesson plans, interactive learning activities, and powerful messages that speak directly to students. The programs are all free-of-charge and OAG specialists are available to provide support upon request.
Original source can be found here.