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Florence– On Wednesday evening, Pinal County Attorney’s Lando Voyles announced the winners of the 2014 Pinal County Attorney’s Office Anti-Drug Poster Contest, marking the 23rd year of this contest in Pinal County.
Melody Borjon, of Kathryn Sue Simonton Elementary, took home Grand Prize and the Pinal County Attorney’s Office will send her and her classmates on a field trip to Arizona Science Center in Phoenix. Jesenai Badilla, of Cactus Middle School, is the “T-shirt Winner” and Richard Garcia, of Desert Vista Elementary School, is the “Bookmark Winner.”
Rounding out the rest of the top nine posters selected by the six judges included, Adrianna Guerra, of Casa Grande Middle School; Allison Manywhisker, of Cactus Middle School; Chase Bulmahn, of J.O. Combs Traditional in San Tan Valley; Dine Miller, of First Avenue Elementary in San Manuel; Joshua Hollar, of Ranch Elementary in San Tan Valley; and Adrianna Navarro, of Cactus Middle School.
The posters selected as the “Bookmark Winner” and “T-shirt Winner” have been printed on bookmarks and t-shirts provided to the students selected in the top-60 of the contest. New this year, the t-shirts will be available for purchase to the public with proceeds going to the Arizona Public Safety Foundation. Details to follow.
The Pinal County Attorney’s Office Anti-Drug Poster Contest is designed to educate and engage Pinal’s youth on the importance of remaining drug-free now and throughout their lives and is open to all 6th Grade students in Pinal County.
Of the top 60 submissions, which receive name recognition on the Pinal County Attorney’s Office Annual Calendar, the judges determined the top nine, who were treated to a pizza party with County Attorney Voyles. Of those nine chosen, judges then decided the Grand Prize Winner, T-shirt Winner and Bookmark Winner.
Top Three Winners (L-R) Pinal County Attorney Lando Voyles, Grand Prize Winner Melody Borjon, T-Shirt Winner Jesenai Badilla, and Bookmark Winner Richard Garcia.
Judges this year included Jen Mix, Miss City of Maricopa Scholarship Organization; Bill Wargo, Casa Grande Alliance; Pat Griffen, Executive Director of Against Abuse, Inc.; Pat Prince, PCSO Citizens on Patrol; Betty Peterson, Pinal County Victim Compensation Board; and Julie and Thad Stanfill, M.A.S.H. Coalition. The guest speaker at the awards ceremony was Mary Patch, Miss City of Maricopa 2014, who spoke on the importance of remaining drug-free and the positive impact of making healthy life choices.
Pinal County Attorney Voyles emceed the ceremony and said, “Through this program, we engage our youth in discussions promoting drug-prevention and education in a fun way. Sixth grade represents a critical age for youth as they begin to encounter situations and choices, which affect the rest of their lives. I thank the teachers, parents, and students for their participation and, again, congratulate Melody, Jesenani, and Richard for their hard work and recognition!”
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