Paint Valley ADAMH Board announces 2024 Write in Red Scholarship Contest winners
The Paint Valley Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Board (ADAMH Board) held the 11th annual Write in Red Essay Contest during Red Ribbon Week Oct. 21-25, 2024.
The essay contest was for all middle and high school students in Fayette, Highland, Pickaway, Pike and Ross counties. Students are provided a red pen and asked to write an essay about ways to prevent drug, alcohol, and tobacco abuse. There were 15 school districts in the Paint Valley ADAMH catchment area that participated in this year’s essay contest.
Scholarships in the amount of $500 were awarded to the winning contestant of each county. Scholarships can be used by the student toward any accredited college or university.
The 2024 winners are:
• Leah Marine, Washington CH High School – Fayette County
• Lily Layne, Lynchburg-Clay High School – Highland County
• Savanna Vulgamore, Westfall High School – Pickaway County
• Karley Brust, Piketon Middle School – Pike County
• Lilliana Neal, Bishop Flaget Middle School – Ross County.
“Each year the students provide the best essays, touching our hearts and opening our eyes as we realize how the environment impacts their lives,” said Paint Valley ADAMH Board Executive Director Melanie Swisher. “It is so energizing to see our youth take a proactive stand against drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse by sharing their personal stories, doing research into relevant issues and sharing their determination to remain drug free.”
Scholarship winners also received $100 for winning their school’s essay contest, as did the following Write in Red Essay Contest school winners:
• Mayumi Kirby, Miami Trace Middle School
• Taylor Livingston, Fairfield High School
• Savannah May Chapman, Westfall Middle School
• Atwood Fox, Eastern High School
• Kalli Noland, Eastern Middle School
• Karanny Gabriel Gutierrez-Heredia, Fairfield Middle School
• Olivia Garrison, Greenfield High School
• Landon Hendershot, Greenfield Middle School
• Troy Gregory, Hillsboro High School
• Maddie Burke, Hillsboro Middle School
• Zayden Eichhorn, Whiteoak High School
• Ivy Garrison, Whiteoak Middle School
• Morgan Faith Williams, Piketon High School
• Abrielle Fleckinger, Waverly Middle School
• Emma Lansing, Waverly High School
• Selena Voorhes, Western High School
• McKinley Sykes, Western Middle School
• Keeley Gamble, Huntington High School
• JayLynn Vinings, Southeastern High School.
About the Paint Valley ADAMH Board: The Paint Valley ADAMH Board was created in 1967 to ensure the availability of community-based alcohol, drug addiction, and mental health services for the residents of Fayette, Highland, Pickaway, Pike and Ross counties. Our mission is to enhance the behavioral healthcare system for our communities, ensuring individuals and families have access to person-centered, evidence-based treatment and support.
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