Congratulations Winter Haven/Haines City Area Winners of Red Ribbon Rally Poster, Poetry & Essay Contests

InnerAct Alliance is proud to announce the winners of its Poster, Poetry and Essay Contests for Fifth Grade Students in the greater Winter Haven/Haines City area schools. Contest participants will be recognized during the Red Ribbon Rally this morning at 10:00 a.m. at Polk State College Gym in Winter Haven.

The anti-drug rally focuses on reinforcing critical substance abuse resistance skills before students enter middle school in the fall. Students were challenged to use their creative talents to compose essays, write poems, or draw posters to illustrate topical messages about the dangers of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. Overall winners in each category will receive cash prizes of $100 (first place), $50 (second place), and $25 (third place) in each contest category.

Guest speaker for the Rally is Patrick T. Grady, a former middle and high school educator who travels throughout North America inspiring and encouraging individuals to do their best in all of their endeavors. Grady is the author of the book titled, “Who Packs the Parachute,” and co-author of “Teen Power Too,” and the book, “Teen Power and Beyond.” Community leaders will also be on hand to encourage the choice of a positive, healthy lifestyle without the use of drugs.

Similar rallies for Lakeland area schools took place last week on May 4th at The Lakeland Center.

The mission of InnerAct Alliance is to reduce the abuse and underage use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs through: Community Awareness and Involvement; Prevention Education; Economic Support; and Leadership Development. The 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency is proud to offer substance abuse prevention to the Hardee, Highlands and Polk County communities with services including science-based education in elementary and middle schools, drug-free puppet shows, informative presentations and family-oriented awareness events that touch the lives of youth, parents, families, businesses, faith-based organizations, community groups and others in need with an important substance abuse message.

Winter Haven/Haines City Winners of Red Ribbon Rallies Poster, Essay & Poetry Contest

Poster Winners
Auburndale Central – Bethany Aguillon
Berkley Charter – Bryanna Rials
Bethune Academy – Marialys Cirilo
Caldwell – Zach Torres
Chain of Lakes – Sara Avellaneda
Davenport School of the Arts – Vanessa Franco
Dundee – Claudio Estrada
Eastside – Ruby Estrada
Elbert – Alyssa Anderson
Garden Grove – Katherine Corrales
Hartridge Academy – Dezarae Maldonado
Horizons – Sophia Campanello
Inwood – Chardonnay Webster
Janie Howard Wilson – Lexi Schmidt
Lake Alfred – Nicholas McClure
Lake Marion Creek – Angelia Rosario
Lake Shipp – Caleb Gilileo
Laurel – Elijah Paz
Lena Vista – Jadon Gore
Loughman Oaks – Yairaberth Vazquez
Palmetto – Keish Marie Valles
Pinewood – Johnna Hunter
Polk City – Deseray Woods
Snively – Shadae Arnold

Poetry Winners
Auburndale Central – Jenica Louis
Berkley Charter - Deyawna Northern
Bethune Academy – Nylah Knight
Caldwell – Cameron Gainey
Davenport School of the Arts – Priscilla Mandujano
Dundee – Amanda Parker
Eastside – Chela Legros
Elbert – Lauren Azurin
Garden Grove – Trevor Crank
Inwood – Gaven Barley
Janie Howard Wilson – Katy Hadden
Lake Alfred – Karla Hoffman
Lake Marion Creek – Cheyenne Cottingham
Lake Shipp – Martine Mitchell
Laurel – Keyannie Pineiro
Lena Vista – Cassie Johnson
Loughman Oaks – Sharon Barahona
Palmetto – Elizabeth Myrick
Pinewood – Conner Tibbetts
Snively – Yereli Mejia

Essay Winners
Auburndale Central - Courtney Reyes
Berkley Charter – Sarah Jeppeson
Caldwell – Jalen Gaskins
Chain of Lakes – Martin Farhangmehr
Davenport School of the Arts – Sophie Leniz
Dundee – Meagan Tomlin
Eastside – Felicity Jo Hufstetler
Elbert – Jaxson Trotti
Horizons – Rachel Marti
Inwood – Equilla Earle
Janie Howard Wilson – Eva Atkinson
Lake Alfred – Gabrielle Figueroa
Lake Shipp – Olivia Joy Thompson
Laurel – Jonathan Garcia
Lena Vista – Hailey Auterson
Loughman Oaks – Zoe Hernandez Carrijo
Palmetto – Char-D’Nea Peters
Pinewood – Tiahna Braddy

Winter Haven/Haines City – Red Ribbon Rally Contest Overall Prize Winners
Poster Contest
1st Place - $100.00 - Vanessa Franco, Davenport School of the Arts
2nd Place - $ 50.00 - Ruby Estrada, Eastside Elementary
3rd Place - $ 25.00 - Yairaberth Vazquez, Loughman Oaks Elementary

Poetry Contest
1st Place - $100.00 - Keyannie Pineiro, Laurel Elementary
2nd Place - $ 50.00 - Deyawna Northern, Berkley Charter
3rd Place - $ 25.00 - Priscilla Mandujano, Davenport School of the Arts

Essay Contest
1st Place - $100.00 - Jalen Gaskins, Caldwell Elementary
2nd Place - $ 50.00 - Gabrielle Figueroa, Lake Alfred Elementary
3rd Place - $ 25.00 - Jonathan Garcia, Laurel Elementary

School with the Most Contest Participants Overall - Berkley Charter School