2014 Red Ribbon Rallies Poster, Poetry & Essay Contests Winter Haven Area Winners

2014 Red Ribbon Rallies Poster, Poetry
and Essay Contests - Winter Haven Area Winners

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 were recognized during the Red Ribbon Rally on Tuesday morning, May 13, 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 received cash prizes of $100 (first place), $50 (second place), and $25 (third place) in each contest category.

Winter Haven Area Rallies Contest Overall Prize Winners

Poster Contest
1^st Place $100.00 - Rebecca Quick, from Jewett School of the Arts
2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Samantha Pruitt, from Berkley
3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Noamy DeJesus, from Snivley

                                   

Poetry Contest
1^st Place $100.00 - Brooke Dover, from Hartridge
2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Sophia Chauhan, from Palmetto
3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Jeremy Leonard, from Janie Howard Wilson

Essay Contest 
1^st Place $100.00 - Gracie Cale, from Berkley
2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Destiny Peeples, from Lena Vista
3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Alecia Huggins, from Auburndale Central

School with the Most Contest Participants Overall - Berkley Elementary

Guest speaker for the Rally is Patrick T. Grady, a former middle and high school educator who travels North America to encourage individuals to do their best in all endeavors. Grady is the author of “Who Packs the Parachute,” and co-author of “Teen Power Too,” and “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 on May 6 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.

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

2014 Red Ribbon Rallies Poster, Poetry & Essay Contests Lakeland Area Winners

InnerAct Alliance is proud to announce the winners of its Poster, Poetry, and Essay Contests for Fifth Grade students in the greater Lakeland area schools. Contest participants were recognized during the Red Ribbon Rallies last week on May 6, 2014 at The Lakeland Center.

The anti-drug rallies focus 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 be awarded cash prizes of $100 (first place), $50 (second place), and $25 (third place) in each contest category.

Congratulations to Lakeland Area Rallies Contest Overall Prize Winners:

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

Poster Category                  
1^st Place $100.00 - Salvador Palacios, from Carlton Palmore
2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Lehla Fisher, from North McKeel                 
3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Alex Martinez, from Cleveland Court

Poetry Category  
1^st Place $100.00 - Zariya Carlton, from Dr. N. E. Roberts
2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Daniel Matlick, from Carlton Palmore
3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Ashley Brooks, from North Lakeland

Essay Category  
1^st Place $100.00 - Analiz Fitzsimmons, from Highland Grove
2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Taylor Arnold, from North McKeel
3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Jeshleyka Gonzalez, from Carlton Palmore

School with the Most Contest Participants Overall – North McKeel Elementary

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

Poster Category  
1^st Place $100.00 - Jovanna Munoz, from Padgett
2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Fara Troiana, from South McKeel
3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Jezelyn Perez, from Scott Lake

Poetry Category  
1^st Place $100.00 - Kaley Tamanini, from St. Joseph 
2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Heather Capel, from Kathleen
3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Dana Sanchez, from Churchwell

Essay Category  
1^st Place $100.00 - McKenna Blevins, from Wendell Watson
2^nd Place $ 50.00 - Brielle Jerkins, from Scott Lake
3^rd Place $ 25.00 - Hailey Strebin, from South McKeel

School with the Most Contest Participants Overall – Lincoln Academy

Guest speaker for the Rallies 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 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 on May 13 at 10:00 a.m. in the Polk State College Gym. Contest winners for those schools will be announced tomorrow.

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.

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

Spring 2014 Prescription Drug Take Back Event Nets 1,059.88 LBS. of Pharmaceuticals

Polk County, FL - StandUP Polk, the Coalition for a Drug-Free Polk, and local law enforcement agencies were proud to participate in the DEA’s National Prescription Drug Take Back event on April 26, 2014, and host our community’s Purge Your Pills Rx Drop Off for citizens to turn in unused, expired, or unwanted human and pet medication.

An estimated 1,059.88 pounds of recovered pharmaceuticals were collected and safely disposed of via incineration. Drop-off sites included Auburndale Police Department, Bartow Police Department, Haines City Police Department, Lake Alfred Police Department, Lake Wales Police Department, Lakeland Police Department, and Winter Haven Police Department.

The latest event brings the total for collections held in Polk County to 6,483 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 permanent drop sites: Auburndale Police Dept. (2 Bobby Green Plaza, weekdays 8-5); Haines City Police Dept. (35400 Hwy 27, weekdays 8-5); Lake Alfred Police Dept. (190 N. Seminole Avenue, 24hrs/7days); Lakeland Police Dept. (219 N. Massachusetts Avenue, 24hrs/7days); or Winter Haven Police Dept. (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, the Coalition for a Drug-Free Polk, is a group of concerned citizens, law enforcement, community and business leaders working together to take a stand against drugs and bring about positive change for Polk County. For more information, please contact StandUP Polk at (863) 802-0777.