RED RIBBON FIFTH GRADE RALLIES POSTER, POETRY and ESSAY CONTESTS - WINTER HAVEN AREA WINNERS

RED RIBBON FIFTH GRADE RALLIES
POSTER, POETRY & ESSAY CONTESTS – WINTER HAVEN AREA WINNERS

Polk County, FL – InnerAct Alliance is proud to announce the winners of the Red Ribbon Rally for The Facts Poster, Poetry, and Essay Contest for Fifth Grade Students in the greater Winter Haven/Haines City area schools. Contest participants will be recognized during the Red Ribbon Rally tomorrow, Tuesday, May 16, at 10:00 a.m. at the Polk State College Gym in Winter Haven.

The prevention rally focuses on reinforcing substance abuse resistance skills before students enter middle school. Students were challenged to compose essays, write poems, or draw posters to illustrate how they live their lives drug free and show the truth about how most young people do not use drugs or alcohol. Overall winners in each category will be awarded cash prizes of $100 (first place), $50 (second place), and $25 (third place).

Winter Haven Area Rallies Contest Overall Prize Winners

Poster Contest
1^st Place $100.00 - Kayra Flores Samuels from Lake Alfred

2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Rubi Pena from Pinewood

3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Anyla Manuel from Lake Alfred

                                   

Poetry Contest
1^st Place $100.00 - Taylor Remy from Loughman Oaks

2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Dejahyria Callaway from Alta Vista

3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Alin Contreras-Campos from Auburndale

Essay Contest 
1^st Place $100.00 - Kaiden McGuire from Alta Vista
2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Hunter Burns from Lena Vista

3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Adielysmar Castro from Elbert

School with the Most Contest Participants Overall - Lake Alfred

Guest speaker for the Rally is Patrick T. Grady, a former middle and high school educator who travels throughout North America encouraging students to do their best in their endeavors. Grady is the author of “Who Packs the Parachute,” and co-author of “Teen Power Too,” and “Teen Power and Beyond.”

A similar rally for Lakeland area schools was held last week on May 10, 2017 at The Lakeland Center.

InnerAct Alliance is proud to have provided substance abuse prevention to the Hardee, Highlands and Polk County communities since 1985 with services including science-based education in elementary and middle schools, teen-driven social marketing, and awareness events that touch the lives of youth, parents, families, businesses, faith-based organizations, community groups and others with an important substance abuse prevention message.

For further information on the Fifth Grade Rally, please call InnerAct Alliance at (863) 802-0777. 

RED RIBBON FIFTH GRADE RALLIES POSTER, POETRY & ESSAY CONTESTS - LAKELAND AREA WINNERS

RED RIBBON FIFTH GRADE RALLIES
POSTER, POETRY and ESSAY CONTESTS - LAKELAND AREA WINNERS

Lakeland, FL – InnerAct Alliance is proud to announce the winners of the Red Ribbon Rally for the Facts Poster, Poetry, and Essay Contest for Fifth Grade Students in the greater Lakeland area schools. Contest participants will be recognized during the Rallies that take place today, Wednesday, May 10, 2017, at 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., at The Lakeland Center.

The prevention rallies focus on reinforcing critical substance abuse resistance skills before students enter middle school. Students were challenged to compose essays, write poems, or draw posters to illustrate how they live their lives drug free and show the truth about how most young people do not use drugs or alcohol. Overall winners in each category will be awarded cash prizes of $100 (first place), $50 (second place), and $25 (third place).

Lakeland Area Rallies Contest Overall Prize Winners for 9:30 AM RALLY

Poster Category 
1^st Place $100.00 - Kelliam Santiago-Leon from Dr. NE Roberts             

2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Kacy Connell from Purcell 
3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Izuarelis Garcia from Berkley  

Poetry Category
1^st Place $100.00 - Serenity Hernandez from Padgett       

2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Byron Burton from Dr. NE Roberts                 

3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Zackary Breitenbach from Churchwell            

Essay Category 
1^st Place $100.00 - Kya Long from Berkley           

2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Katherine Oliver from  Churchwell

3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Sasha Lopez from Dr. NE Roberts

School with the Most Contest Participants Overall – Berkley Charter

Lakeland Area Rallies Contest Overall Prize Winners for 11:30 AM RALLY

Poster Category
1^st Place $100.00 - Jaalyn McBride from Dixieland

2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Jasmine Hagan from Cleveland Court               

3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Giovanni Lopez Garcia from Jesse Keen

Poetry Category
1st Place $100.00 - Sarah Wright from McKeel Academy Central

2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Pranav Gunjala from Lincoln Academy                            

3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Kaylienne Duran from North Lakeland

Essay Category
1^st Place $100.00 - Kiara Vargas from St. Anthony           

2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Kendell Anthony Joseph from South McKeel

3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Melanie Colbert-Cortright from St. Paul

Guest speaker for the Rallies is Patrick T. Grady, a former middle and high school educator who travels throughout North America encouraging students to do their best in all their endeavors. Grady is the author of “Who Packs the Parachute,” and co-author of “Teen Power Too,” and “Teen Power and Beyond.”

Another rally for Winter Haven and Haines City area schools will be held next week on May 16 at 10:00 a.m. in the Polk State College Gym. Contest winners for those schools will be announced next week.

InnerAct Alliance is proud to have provided substance abuse prevention to the Hardee, Highlands and Polk County communities since 1985 with services including science-based education in elementary and middle schools, teen-driven social marketing, and awareness events that touch the lives of youth, parents, families, businesses, faith-based organizations, community groups and others with an important substance abuse prevention message.

For further information on the Fifth-Grade Rallies, please call InnerAct Alliance at (863) 802-0777.  

Spring 2017 DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Event Successfully Nets 2,396 lbs. of Medications

Spring 2017 DEA National Prescription Drug Take Back Event 

Successfully Nets 2,396 lbs. of Medications

Polk County, FL - StandUP Polk and local law enforcement agencies were proud to participate in the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back event on Saturday, April 29, 2017 for Polk County citizens to turn in expired or unwanted human and pet medication.

An estimated 2,396 pounds of recovered pharmaceuticals were collected and safely disposed of via incineration. The 8 drop-off sites that participated in the Spring Medication Take Back included Auburndale Police Department, Bartow Police Department, Haines City Police Department, Lake Alfred Police Department, Lake Hamilton Police Department, Lakeland Police Department, Lake Wales Police Department, and Winter Haven Police Department.

The latest event brings the total for collections held in Polk County to over 12,000 pounds of recovered pharmaceuticals dating back to 2010. All medications were safely disposed of via incineration. 

Unwanted medications may also be taken to the county’s six permanent drop sites at the Police Department locations in: Auburndale (2 Bobby Green Plaza, weekdays 8-5); Haines City (35400 Hwy 27, weekdays 8-5); Lake Alfred (190 N. Seminole Avenue, 24hrs/7days); Lake Hamilton (100 Smith Avenue, weekdays 8-5); Lakeland (219 N. Massachusetts Avenue, 24hrs/7days); and Winter Haven (125 N. Lake Silver Drive NW, weekdays 8-5).  To avoid harming lakes and ground water, please do not dispose of medication in the toilet.  

StandUP Polk is a community coalition working together to prevent harm and promote health through education, public awareness, and advocacy including strategies to prevent youth substance abuse. For more information, please contact StandUP Polk at (863) 802-0777.

Congratulations to Polk County Teacher of the Year Lois Horn-Diaz

Congratulations to Polk County Teacher of the Year
Lois Horn-Diaz

InnerAct Alliance congratulates our long-time friend and supporter, Mrs. Lois Horn-Diaz, an outstanding educator at R. Bruce Wagner Elementary School in Lakeland who was recently named Polk County Teacher of the Year. We appreciate the vital role she plays in improving the quality of life for students and families in Polk County through her daily teaching duties and activities.

For many years, Lois volunteered her time and talents to perform original songs to relay the prevention message to children at Red Ribbon Rallies for over 6,000 fifth grade students each spring, as well as at Red Ribbon Campaign kick-off events at elementary schools in the fall. She has an amazing ability to deliver a powerful message in a fun way that brings the whole community together in support of the Red Ribbon message to “Stay away from drugs and say YES to healthy activities.” Thanks, Lois, for all you do!

Congratulations to UthMpact Class VI Graduates!

Congratulations to UthMpact Class VI Graduates!

On Wednesday evening, April 5, 2017, UthMpact will celebrate graduation for its Class VI student leaders who successfully completed the 2016-2017 UthMpact Leadership Program. We are extremely proud that students representing every high school in the county have been enriched by this program in its six years in existence.

The UthMpact Leadership Program, spearheaded by InnerAct Alliance, StandUP Polk Coalition, UthMpact Coalition, along with key business partners, is designed to help teens develop crucial leadership skills and entails a two-day summer retreat, six Leadership Days spent traveling throughout the community experiencing the inner workings of local government, healthcare, education, business, volunteerism, and law enforcement, as well as participation in dozens of events and volunteer opportunities throughout the year. The group’s most prominent project has been its social-norms program impacting students in area high schools with important messages about bullying, distracted driving, tobacco, marijuana, alcohol, and prescription drugs.

Congratulations to our UthMpact Class VI Graduates: Emily Alexander (Lakeland Senior High School), Veronica Aviles (Fort Meade Middle/High School), Jacob Barnett (All Saints Academy), Ava Carter (Harrison School for the Arts), Caroline Carter (Harrison School for the Arts), Adelaide Christian (Lakeland Senior High School), Katherine Cossin (George Jenkins High School), Elizabeth Cribb (IB at Bartow High School), Ashria Daskundu (McKeel School of Technology), Brooke Drawdy (Lakeland Senior High School), Coryell Dreyer (Harrison School for the Arts), Jayla Fairley (All Saints Academy), Jack Garcia (All Saints Academy), Athena Hill (Summerlin Academy), James Hunter (IB at Bartow High School), Hannah Hussey (Victory Christian Academy), Guriel Kim (Bartow Senior High School), Omari Jackson (Lake Wales High School), Riley Jarrell (Lakeland Christian School), Nickalaus Kramer (Ridge Community High School), Tanner Ledford (Harrison School for the Arts), Luke Lewis (Lakeland Senior High School), Mary Claire Madden (Lakeland Senior High School), Robert Madden (Lakeland Senior High School), Madeline Manzi (McKeel School of Technology), Yereli Mejia (IB at Haines City High School), Kacie Parrow (Victory Christian Academy), Hunter Pomeroy (Kathleen Senior High School), Erica Revelo (Lake Wales High School), Demetrius Robinson (Haines City High School), Eve Royal (Harrison School for the Arts), Elaina Salerno (Lake Gibson High School), Jose Santiago-Mora (Bartow Senior High School), Tison Savage (Harrison School for the Arts), Garrett Steele (Tenoroc High School), Theodore Steelman (All Saints Academy), Alejandra Tena (IB at Haines City High School), Bailey Timmons (Victory Christian Academy), Hailey Tomlin (George Jenkins High School), Rebecca Turner (McKeel School of Technology), Jack Twgford (Winter Haven High School), Madelyn Walsh (Harrison School for the Arts), Chase Walters (Lakeland Christian School), Mariah Wiggs (Lake Gibson High School), and Marcus Wright Jr. (Summerlin Academy).

2017 Project Prom: Celebrate Prom Alcohol & Drug Free!

~ Celebrate Prom Alcohol & Drug Free! ~   

UthMpact’s 2017 Project Prom of Polk County is off to a fantastic start providing formal dresses, suits, and accessories to deserving high school teens in exchange for signing a pledge to make smart, healthy decisions on the night of prom. We are very proud of our current and past UthMpact student leaders for raising awareness and encouraging their Polk County friends and peers to celebrate safe and memorable prom nights since 2013.

3 more Project Prom Shopping Days will be held on Saturdays March 18, April 1, and April 15 from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. Come down to our New Project Prom Store at 1113-B South Florida Avenue in the Dixieland area to see the beautiful gowns, men’s wear, and accessories donated by community residents. High school students with a Polk County School ID can sign a Project Prom Pledge to celebrate drug-free and receive their formal wear for FREE!

Since 2013, over 500 prom ensembles have been provided to young women and men. UthMpact's goal is to promote a fun and safe prom night. Project Prom would like to thank our very generous sponsors: Badcock Home Furniture & More, MIDFlorida Credit Union, Publix Super Markets, Inc., Two Men And A Truck, WPCV 97 Country, and WWRZ MAX 98.3 Radio.   

Fifth Grade Red Ribbon Rallies on May 10 & May 16!

Fifth Grade Red Ribbon Rallies on May 10 & May 16!

Nearly 6,000 fifth grade students in Polk County have been invited to participate in InnerAct Alliance’s 2017 Red Ribbon Rallies. Rally events in Lakeland are scheduled on Wednesday, May 10^th at 9:30 am and 11:30 am at The Lakeland Center. Fifth graders from Haines City and Winter Haven area schools will gather on Tuesday, May 16^th, at 10:00 am, at the Polk State College Gym in Winter Haven.

The anti-drug motivational rallies focus on reinforcing critical substance abuse resistance skills before students enter middle school in the fall.  Nationally known speaker, Patrick T. Grady, community leaders, and radio personalities from 97 Country WPCV’s Breakfast Club will be on hand to encourage students to make the positive choice of a healthy lifestyle without the use of drugs.  

Fifth graders will compete in a special contest to create original essays, poems, and posters that convey topical anti-drug messages about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Contest participants will be recognized during the rallies and overall first place winners in each contest category will receive cash prizes of $100, $50 and $25.