During Red Ribbon Week, observed Oct. 22-26, the Paint Valley Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Board sponsored “Write In Red,” an essay contest for all middle and high school students in the board’s region.
Students were given a red pen to write an essay for the contest about how to prevent drug and alcohol abuse. Each participating middle and high school submitted their school’s winning essay to the Paint Valley ADAMH Board. One student from each county was selected to receive a $500 scholarship to any accredited college or university.
“We are pleased to announce that the following students were awarded a $100 prize for winning their school’s essay contest and a $500 scholarship for winning the county contest,” the board said in a news release.
Laci Mulenkamp, Fairfield High School – Highland County
Mackenzie Shaffer, Washington High School – Fayette County
Nataleigh Blankenship, Eastern Middle School – Pike County
Jalynne Nichols, Unioto High School – Ross County
Paint Valley ADAMH Board Executive Director Penny Dehner said in the release that 2018 is the fifth year for the scholarship contest.
“We were extremely pleased with the number of entries we received,” Dehner said. “Substance abuse is a community issue that affects all of us, especially our youth. It is so refreshing to see our youth take a proactive stand against drug and alcohol abuse by sharing their personal stories, doing research into relevant issues, and their determination to remain drug-free.”
The following students were school winners and awarded $100 for the Write In Red essay contest:
Sydney Hooper, Fairfield Middle School
Makayla Middleton, Hillsboro High School
Isabella Patton, Hillsboro Middle School
Carson Emery, White Oak Middle School
Kallie Helton, Eastern High School
Olivia Cornwell, Piketon High School
Trace Schoolcraft, Piketon Middle School
Brystol Murphy, Waverly High School
Chase Grooms, Western High School Gracie Satterfield, Western Middle School
Madelyn Schafer, Chillicothe High School
Maddox Woods, Chillicothe Middle School
Hannah Balusik, Huntington High School
Mack Steele, Huntington Middle School
Savannah Fout, Southeastern Middle School
Wyatt Perry, Southeastern High School
Karan Watkins, Unioto Middle School
Jayden Berry, Zane Trace High School
Paint Valley ADAMH Board is a political subdivision of state government created in 1967 by the Ohio legislature to ensure the availability of community-based addiction and mental health services for the residents of Fayette, Highland, Pickaway, Pike and Ross Counties.
Submitted by Melinda Sheets, Paint Valley ADAMH Board public affairs coordinator.
