Congratulations to two ACS middle school students — 8th grader Taylor Sutton and 6th grader Kalee Tardif — who were recently  selected as winners in a Public Service Announcement Graphic Arts Contest about the dangers of underage drinking, sponsored by Join Together Atlantic County (JTAC).

Taylor’s graphic image, entitled “Think Before You Drink,” took 2nd place, and Kalee’s artwork, entitled “Be Wize – Stay Sober, Stay Cool” came in 3rd place. Both winners received a certificate and a gift card.

The contest was open to all students in Atlantic County in the 6th-8th grades. The theme of the contest was a message to parents from youth about the dangers of underage drinking or providing alcohol to those under 21.

Taylor and Kalee created their PSA posters during Middle School Computer Class in May.  They designed their posters in Google Slides, using clipart, fonts, and drawing tools. Computer teacher Rhapsody Hahn-Chaney submitted their artwork to the contest by the May 21 deadline, along with designs created by some 35 of their fellow classmates. The contest winners were announced on July 7 by Join Together Atlantic County, a countywide substance misuse prevention coalition.

According to the JTAC,  the younger a person starts drinking, the more likely he or she is to have alcohol problems later in life. A person who starts drinking as a young teen is four times more likely to become an alcoholic than someone who does not drink until age 21. The brain is still forming in teenagers and teen drinking can cause permanent brain damage.

CLICK HERE to read an article about the contest that appeared in the July 7 Downbeach newspaper.