Students recognized for their artistry in creating drug awareness posters

The Laconia Elks Club and the Laconia Emblem Club teamed-up to offer area grade school students an opportunity to test their artistic skills while at the same time enhancing their awareness of the dangers of drugs.

As part of the Elks Club's Drug Awareness program, the young artists were asked to participate in a contest to create their own posters that would communicate this year's theme: "I believe in me — I'm drug free." Students from seven area schools participated and yesterday, the winners were announced at a banquet hosted at the Elks Club.

The winners were:

First Grade

1st Place — Alex D'Amico

2nd Place — Hillory Gagne

3rd Place — Shana Jerrier

Second Grade

1st Place — Elijah Gravenhorst

2nd Place — Sammie Green

3rd Place — Shawn Phillips

Third Grade

1st Place — Samantha Cronin

2nd Place — Victoria Malavet

3rd Place — Miranda Watson

Fourth Grade

1st Place — Lauren Price

2nd Place — Nathaniel Sweeney

3rd Place — Claire Gravenhorst

Fifth Grade

1st Place — Stephanie Tardif

2nd Place — Chantel-Renee Gagne

3rd Place — Samantha Ranger

Sixth Grade

1st Place — Brendan McCauley

2nd Place — Sean McCauley

3rd Place — Andrea Oliver

Winners were chosen by a panel of eight judges, and all received a basketball. In addition, the young artists were awarded coupons from area businesses for pizza, videos and other items, and each first place winner was given a $50 U.S. Savings Bond.

Introducing the students to what banquets are all about, Lisa Remick, a special agent with the Drug Enforcement Agency; Alan Robichaud, Executive Director of the Belknap County Council on Children and Family Services; Officer Don Kimtis with the Laconia DARE program; and Moultonborough Police Chief Scott Kinmond all took a few moments at the microphone to congratulate the young artists and to talk about the issue of drugs.

Frank Mello emceed the affair.