Bullaro was honored earlier this week at an awards ceremony at the James Prendergast Library.

“Your Choice is Your Voice” is the theme of our 24th annual youth poster-making contest,” said Melanie Witkowski, Prevention Works Inc. executive director. “Each year, the student contestants get better and more creative in their artwork presentations.”

Each year, the non-profit, located at 1 E. Main St., Falconer, holds a contest in which students in third through eighth grades compete for prizes, a chance to have their unique artwork displayed on a public billboard, and a professional custom framing of the winner’s poster. Witkowski said the preventative, educational, and intervention services Prevention Works provides have an impact on fighting alcohol abuse, drug abuse, youth tobacco usage, and other non-positive lifestyle choices.

“During the course of the last few years, we can proudly say that alcohol youth usage is down 6% and growing,” she said.

From left, Lucy Bullaro, a Panama Central School freshman and winner of the Prevention Works Inc. Poster Design Contest, is pictured with Debbra Bailey of Panama Central School and Melanie Witkowski, Prevention Works Inc. executive director, at an awards ceremony held in the James Prendergast Library’s Fireplace room. Bullaro’s artwork was voted the best out of 114 submissions.

Kristian Reiber, a prevention coach at Prevention Works, said the poster contest uses peer-based pressure in a positive way to help stop underage drinking and alcohol abuse. This year, the poster designs revolved around making healthy choices instead of using drugs and alcohol, he said.

“We had 119 submissions this year from all across the county,” said Reiber.

Winners are:

– Grand Prize Winner: Lucy Bullaro (9th Grade), Panama Central School (Mrs. Bailey).

– Ninth through 12th Grades: Arehlyn Pattison, 12th grade at Panama Central School (Mrs. Bailey); Marlaina Rodriguez, ninth grade; and a Falconer Central School entry (Mrs. Cheney.)

-Sixth through Eighth grades:: Colton Watkins, eighth grade, Clymer Central School (Mrs. Mayott); Addelide Reynolds, eighth grade, Clymer Central School (Mrs. Mayott); Matthew Perry, eighth grade, Clymer Central School (Mrs. Mayott.)

– Third through fifth grades: Allison Tunison, fifth grade, Westfield Academy and Central School (Mrs. Feraldi); Skylar Doyon, third grade, Westfield Academy and Central School (Mrs. Feraldi); Ava Green, fifth grade, Westfield Academy and Central School (Mrs. Feraldi.)

-Honorable Mention: Aria O’Rourke, third grade, Westfield Academy and Central School (Mrs. Feraldi), Kathryn Gustafson, ninth grade, Falconer Central School (Mrs. Cheney.)

Laurie Reynolds, Prevention Works associate executive director, said the three first-place finishers received $75, the second-place finishers received $50, the third-place finishers received $25, and the two honorable mentions received $15. The grand prize finalist earned $100, a billboard featuring the winner’s poster, and a custom poster framing.

County Executive PJ Wendel was a guest speaker at the event and recounted how he had lost many friends from school to alcohol and drug overdoses.

“This is still a problem in our county,” said Wendel. “I can’t tell you how many friends I’ve lost in their 20s, 30s, and 40s to an overdose or drunk driving through the years.”

Wendel said he was thankful for the programming and efforts Prevention Work makes to stymie the effects of drug and alcohol abuse in the county, using a positive peer-pressure model like the poster design contest.