MWHS junior Avril Fernanda Urrea Martinez was named a grand prize winner of the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council's (ADAC) 39th Annual Substance Use Prevention poster/8th Annual Substance Use Prevention essay contest. This year's theme was "Picture Your Future Through a Drug Free Lens." Over 650 students in K-12 grades participated, from 14 districts and 30 schools.
According to Holly Martucci, Avril's Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) advisor and 11AP Language & Composition teacher, "Avril won grand prize grade 7-12 for her emotional essay submission. She read it in Spanish and then in English. It brought out a lot of emotions in the audience."
This marks the first time the grand prize 7-12 essay from the countywide ADAC poster/essay contest has been awarded to a Spanish submission. MWHS Principal Jason McElroy and Ms. Martucci were on hand during the ceremony on May 8 to celebrate Avril's award.
Additionally, Madison Cheemooke, a MWMS 7th grader, was acknowledged for her writing with an Honorable Mention in the grade 7-12 category.
"Madison’s writing is exquisite as she pulls readers in with her believable, realistic characters who are struggling with identity and acceptance. Through her prose, Madison's characters, and the readers, understand a moving message to look deep within a mirror, seeing themselves, and to make decisions to stay drug free," said Jennifer Kirschenheiter, MWMS Grade 7 English teacher.
Congratulations, Crusaders!👏🌟🏆