HARRISBURG — Attorney General Josh Shapiro today congratulated the winners of the Attorney General’s 22nd Annual Drug-Free Calendar Contest.
Click here to view the calendar.
In October, National Substance Abuse Prevention Month, fifth-grade students across the Commonwealth were invited to create an original work of art illustrating a drug-free message. The artwork of 13 students was selected to appear in the 2019 calendar, which is circulated throughout the Commonwealth in an effort to educate the public about the dangers of drug use.
“Our annual calendar contest is about more than celebrating student artwork; it’s about students empowering other young people to make smart choices,” Attorney General Shapiro said. “Combatting the opioid epidemic is my number one priority and we need a multipronged approach, including education to prevent drug use. Children must learn about the real dangers of substance abuse, and the calendar contest helps spread that message across the Commonwealth.”
Each calendar month is represented with artwork of a Pennsylvania student, with one additional student illustration on the front of the calendar. The winning entries were chosen from 912 submissions from 140 schools in 47 counties in Pennsylvania, based on the artists’ creativity and ability to illustrate and convey a drug-free message.
The contest winners were invited today to the Office of Attorney General in Strawberry Square, Harrisburg, where they were guests at a luncheon with Attorney General Shapiro. Attorney General Shapiro discussed the dangers of drugs with the students. Each student received a certificate and a $529 contribution to their Pennsylvania 529 College Savings Program, which is supervised by the Pennsylvania Treasury Department.
The calendar contest is funded through the Community Drug Abuse Prevention Fund. Fines and penalties collected from certain offenses, such as driving under the influence, contribute to the fund.
The following students were named 2019 Drug-Free Calendar Contest winners:
- Cover: Paden Costanzo, Pennsylvania Cyber Charter School, Beaver County
- January: Izzy McMonigal, St. Joseph’s Catholic School, Warren County
- February: Katrina Martin, Washington Heights Elementary, Cumberland County
- March: Maxwell McDonald, Wrightsville Elementary, York County
- April: Melina Bui, Divine Mercy Academy, Allegheny County
- May: Allie Gujski, Ross Elementary, Allegheny County
- June: Roman Guagnozzi, St. Mary School, Montgomery County
- July: Isabella DiCarlo, West Penn Elementary, Schuylkill County
- August: Corinne Fair, Reamstown Elementary School, Lancaster County
- September: Karlie Banks, Old Forge Elementary School, Lackawanna County
- October: Koby Ross, Forest Hills Elementary, Cambria County
- November: Elise Sengoz, Highland Elementary School, Cumberland County
- December: Abri Assalone, South Saint Marys Elementary School, Elk County
Agents and specialists from the Office of Attorney General visit schools throughout the year to meet with children to educate them about the importance of staying drug free. The programs feature customized lessons, interactive presentations and messages speaking directly to the audience.
Visit www.attorneygeneral.gov or call the Office of Attorney General’s Office of Public Engagement at 800-525-7642 to learn more about these programs.
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