FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE—Nov. 28, 2012 

SeminoleCountyStudents Honored Tonight

The Seminole County Sheriff, State Attorney, and School Board officials will gather tonight at Winter Springs High School to honor the public and private school students whose art, essays, and public service announcements were selected as winners in the Nineteenth Annual Poster and Essay Contest. 

The contest, sponsored by Seminole County State Attorney Norm Wolfinger, Seminole County Sheriff Don Eslinger, and the Seminole County School Board invites all students to produce materials promoting a drug-free life. This year, more than 2,000 posters were received from 28 schools that participated in the contest. Students in grades K through 12 can participate at differing levels in the contest. 

Area police chiefs, city and county dignitaries, and school officials will join with families of the winners in recognizing the achievements of the children. 

“When the kids create these works of art, they use the words, the techniques, and the style that appeals to other kids. That means that we can be sure their drug-free message is getting to the proper audience with the proper language and presentation,” said State Attorney Wolfinger who first began the contest 19 years ago. 

Area businesses donate prizes for the winners The Sheriff’s office is an integral part of the event because they fund, through confiscated drug monies, the full production of the calendar. Other valued partners are the “SWAT” program (Students Working Against Tobacco) sponsored y the Tobacco Prevention Program and the Seminole County Board of County Commissioners. 

Teams of judges narrow down the contestants until a final selection is made in late October. All of the children’s work will be displayed or presented tonight and the children recognized. The awards program begins at about 7 p.m. 

“This contest fills one of the most important roles we serve—preventing crime. We attack drug problems on a number of fronts, but prevention is the best way to do it,” said State Attorney Wolfinger.