The contest asked fifth-grade students from across the Commonwealth to create original artwork illustrating a drug-free message of their choice.
“I believe that education is extremely important in keeping children away from illegal drug use,” Attorney General Kane said “The Drug-Free Calendar Contest is one of the ways our office works with schools to educate students.”
The grand prize winner's artwork is displayed on the calendar's cover and the other 12 winners' artwork represent each month of the calendar year. Winners were chosen from 928 entries from 231 schools in 53 counties throughout the Commonwealth. The winners were chosen based on the artists' creativity and ability to illustrate and convey a drug-free message.
The contest is funded through the Community Drug Abuse Prevention Fund. Fines and penalties collected from certain types of offenses, such as driving under the influence, go toward the fund.
The following students were named the 2016 Drug-Free Calendar Contest winners:
- Cover – Hayley Miller (Grand Prize Winner), Forest Hills Elementary, Sidman, Cambria County.
- January – Sophia Waltman, West Penn Township Elementary, New Ringgold, Schuylkill County.
- February – Kailey McCloy, Clifford N. Pritts, Melcroft, Fayette County.
- March –Abigail Winters, Visitation BVM, Norristown, Montgomery County.
- April – Angelina Bell, Riverside Elementary, Reading, Berks County.
- May – Emma Gross, Cecil Intermediate School, McDonald, Washington County.
- June – Christine Nguyen, Holy Innocents ACES, Philadelphia.
- July – Hayne Webster, Rock L. Butler Middle School, Wellsboro, Tioga County.
- August – Natalie Delavan, Highland Elementary, Camp Hill, Cumberland County.
- September – Hugh Salva, St. Michael the Archangel School, Bethlehem, Lehigh County.
- October – John Forjan, Sinking Springs Elementary School, York, York County.
- November – William Scott, St. Anne School, Lancaster, Lancaster County.
- December – Isabella Walls, St. Maximilian Kolbe School, West Chester, Chester County.