Pam Dudding Contributing writer
McCleary Elementary and Craig County Middle School students entered a Red Ribbon Poster contest which was sponsored by The Roanoke Area Youth Substance Abuse Coalition (RAYSAC). The nonprofit organization provides community education and awareness, advocacy for prevention and treatment services and parent and youth education to prevent substance use and promote wellness in the Roanoke Valley.
At a recent School Board meeting, Superintendent Jeanette Warwick shared that the theme for this year’s Red Ribbon Poster Contest was “Send a Message, Stay Drug-Free.”
“The poster contest is a fun way for elementary students to be creative and show why it is important to be healthy and drug-free,” she said. “The contest is open to all K-5 grade youth in the cities of Roanoke and Salem and the counties of Roanoke, Craig and Botetourt. We had a lot of winners, so we are very excited.”
The top three posters in each grade level received a cash prize and were recently recognized at a candlelight ceremony held at the Hotel Roanoke.
The winners from CCPS were: First-grader Akira Nickels who took 1st place and Trevor Fisher who won 3rd. The seventh-grade winners were Madison Underwood who won first-place and Damien Smith who placed third.
Akira, who was presented with a blue ribbon and certificate, said at Hotel Roanoke, “I can’t believe I won.” The other students were also awarded.
McCleary Principal Geri VanDyke and Craig County Middle School Principal Melissa Whiting assisted Warwick in presenting the students with a Certificate of Recognition and much praise.
Whiting said she was very pleased that they were well represented by their middle school.
Art Teacher Sierra Frasier assisted them in her class in making the posters for the contest. Warwick shared, “We are very appreciative of Mrs. Frasier, as it is a lot of work to help these students enter the contests.”
VanDyke added, “She does an amazing job with our little guys and with the bigger ones as well. With all the competition and everything she does we just appreciate all of her work.”
The school created a digital Christmas card with all the winners on it which they used to send out this year. The card can be viewed on the school’s website.
