Catholic Charities Presents Awards for 24th Annual Prevention Poster Contest
Nearly 200 Students Submitted Poster Entries
MONTICELLO – Catholic Charities Community Services of Orange and Sullivan hosted the awards ceremony for the 24th Annual Alcohol, Tobacco, Gambling, and Drug Abuse Poster Contest at the Sullivan County Government Center. The annual contest, hosted in recognition of Alcohol Awareness Month, celebrates the creative and artistic talent of Sullivan County students while promoting an important message of prevention.
The theme for this year’s poster contest was: “I’m the Real Me; When Choosing To Be: Alcohol, Tobacco, Gambling and Drug Free.” The grand prize winner for the Spanish language poster was Julia Almodoval, an 8th grader at Liberty Middle School. The grand prize winner for the English language poster was Isabella Mundy, a 10th grade student at Sullivan West High School. Each grand prize winner received a $250 cash award and their winning posters were professionally printed and are being distributed to school districts, businesses, and non-profit and government agencies throughout Sullivan County.
“We are grateful to the participating students, schools, art teachers, and businesses that make the poster contest a success each year,” said Martin Colavito, Catholic Charities Director of Prevention Services, who served as the master of ceremony for the awards program. “The students put a lot of thought and creativity into their posters and take time to reflect on the theme and the issues of addiction and abuse. Each year, the students come up with new and meaningful ways to explore the theme and share it with their peers. The contest continues to be a successful way to promote the benefits of prevention,” added Colavito.
In addition to the grand prizes, awards were presented for first, second, and third prize, as well as honorable mention. Award categories were grades 1-4, 5-8, and 9 – 12. This year, 194 students participated from Benjamin Cosor Elementary (Fallsburg), Fallsburg Jr./Sr. High School, George Ross MacKenzie Elementary School (Eldred), Liberty Middle and High School, Roscoe Central, and Livingston Manor Elementary. The posters were judged by a team of community volunteers.
The poster contest is co-hosted each year by the Sullivan County Legislature. 2018 Contest sponsors included Anderman Oil, Dino Mavros Co., The Law Offices of John Ferrara, and Susan and Stephen Miller.
New York State Assemblywoman Aileen Gunther, District 100, a strong supporter of addiction and recovery services, also attended the ceremony to view the posters and extend her congratulations to this year’s winners. Gunther serves as Chair of the NYS Assembly Committee on Mental Health.
“We are grateful to all those who helped make the poster contest a success for the 24th year,” said L.A. Branch, Prevention Projects Coordinator at Catholic Charities’ Sullivan County campus. “Together, we are making a difference in the lives of our young people, the residents of Sullivan County, and the health of our community.”
Catholic Charities Prevention Services has offices in both Orange and Sullivan Counties and maintains a presence in many school districts. Last year, the program provided community outreach, education, and training to 33,000 individuals. For more information about the poster contest or Prevention Services in Sullivan County, contact L.A. Branch at 845.794.8080, ext. 117 or LA.branch@cccsos.org.
####
Catholic Charities Community Services of Orange and Sullivan, as one of the human service agencies of Catholic Charities of The Archdiocese of New York, is committed to building a compassionate and just society. Catholic Charities Community Services of Orange and Sullivan serves the homeless, the hungry, the emotionally and physically handicapped, immigrants, and the marginalized and vulnerable of Orange, Sullivan, and Ulster Counties. Catholic Charities collaborates with parishes, Catholic, and non-Catholic partners alike to help people of all religions who are in need. For more information, visit www.cccsos.org.
Cutline 1: Isabella Mundy, a 10th grader at Sullivan West High School, received the grand prize award for the English language poster in the 24th Annual Alcohol, Tobacco, Gambling, and Drug Abuse Poster Contest hosted by Catholic Charities Community Services and the Sullivan County Legislature.
Cutline 2: Julia Almodoval, an 8th grade student at Liberty Middle School was the grand prize winner for the Spanish language poster.
Cutline 3: Students in grades 5 – 8 from Benjamin Cosor Elementary and George Ross Mackenzie Elementary received honorable mentions for their submissions to the 24th annual poster contest.
