Organizers of the Safe Streets/Pierce County Meth Action Team announced winners of a youth media contest May 12 during an awards ceremony that included Washington State Representative Dennis Flannigan presented the awards.

More than 130 high school students from all over Pierce County submitted work in four categories for the contest. Entries included Public Service Announcements, documentaries, posters, and essays reflecting the impacts of meth — from the loss of youth’s innocence to the illegal drug’s physical impacts.

Students from the Tacoma, Clover Park, Peninsula, Franklin Pierce, and Puyallup school districts as well as Homeschool and Running Start participated. One Mount Tahoma High School art teacher submitted work from more than 60 of her students.

Safe Streets worked with administrators, teachers and the local media to solicit entries for the contest last fall. Interested students had to register by Feb. 24, and local professionals judged entries April 20. Judges included representatives from the media, professional artists, public outreach specialists as well as Safe Street staff members.

“This project inspired youth to learn about the devastating consequences of methamphetamine use,” said Kim Anderson, Safe Streets Pierce County Meth Prevention Services Coordinator, who administered the program. “Through the power of media, the contest gave them an opportunity to become a powerful influence in our community,” she said.

Safe Streets has posted the winning entries on its Web site — http://www.safestreeetscampaign.org — and the work also will be included in a traveling display in the coming months. To view some of the entries, visit the News Tribune’s image gallery at http://www.thenewstribune.com/images/galleries/methposters/ .
Local businesses contributed merchandise for prizes in four categories. The grand prize is a $2,000 PCMAT Educational Scholarship Grant distributed through the Washington State Guaranteed Education Program.

Sponsors included Classy Chassis, Costco, Elmer’s, F.Y.I., Greater Pierce County Community Network, Kickstand Cafe, KLAY Radio, Metro Parks Tacoma, McDonald’s, The News Tribune, Old Country Buffet, Pierce College, Pierce County METH Action Team, Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, Rainier Communications, Round Table Pizza, Safe Streets Campaign, Snohomish County Sheriffs Department, Starbucks Coffee, S.T.R.I.V.E., Tacoma Police Department, Tacoma Rainier’s, Thrill Zone, University of Washington Tacoma, U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, Weed & Seed, Westwood College, and Wild Waves and Enchanted Village.

The Safe Streets Campaign is the first private, non-profit organization that unites neighbors against crime — a model for other programs nationwide. Serving Tacoma and Pierce County since 1989, Safe Streets equal a safe community. Both private and public dollars support Safe Street’s community efforts.

The winners are:

Public Service Announcement

Grand Prize — Bradley Anderson, Homeschool/Independent Study, Tacoma

Second Place — Emily Deveraux, Rogers High School, Puyallup

Third Place — Stephanie Comstock and Becca Grahms, Mount Tahoma High School, Tacoma

Documentary

First Place — Bradley Texidor, Rogers High School, Puyallup

Second Place — Aimee Christofferson, Thomas Wilkins, Amanda Tran and Julie Reveles, Foss High School, Tacoma

Third Place — Krystal Eurom, Britany Cowart and Amy Dearing, Rogers High School, Puyallup

Print Media

First Place — Kristine Pascual, Mount Tahoma High School, Tacoma

Second Place — Scott Sybesma, Mount Tahoma High School, Tacoma

Third Place — Pearl Casey, Mount Tahoma High School, Tacoma

Writing

First Place — Chase Dewey, Rogers High School, Puyallup