CENTREVILLE — Queen Anne’s County Commissioners recognized young artists and peer ambassadors making a difference in raising awareness and the lives of others with presentations from the Queen Anne’s County Drug Free Coalition April 23.
Elaborate posters intricate with purple — the official color of opioid awareness — and anti-drug messages graced the county commissioners meeting as seven winners were announced for the 2024 Opioid Awareness Poster Contest.
This year’s competition saw 68 entries from students in sixth through 12th grade and winners included one from each public middle and high school and one from the private schools and home schooled students, according to Warren Wright of the Queen Anne’s County Drug Free Coalition.
“It was really well received by the county teachers and the kids,” he said, noting the excitement the event invites every year.
Welcoming everyone to “go purple” for a drug free life, students were tasked with using creativity to design posters and share messages about the dangers of substance abuse, according to Julie Kille, Opioid Education and Prevention Coordinator
This year’s seven winners were: Stevensville Middle School 8th grader Zailynn Kelley, Centreville Middle School 7th grader Quinn Francesconi, the Gunston School 9th grader Madi Hopwood, Sudlersville Middle School 8th grader Olivia Coppage, Queen Anne’s County High School 12th senior Aria Francesconi, Matapeake Middle School 8th grader Baily McMahon and Kent Island High School senior Kyla Loar.
Posters will be showcased at the Liberty Building and will be cycled through various buildings around the community.
Dedication to community awareness knows no bounds as Kille herself also transported the posters to display in local businesses.
Also hosted through the Drug-Free Coalition, the Performing Arts Commercial Competition invited students to create a one-of-a-kind video commercial expressing the dangers of drugs and this year’s winner was presented to the Gunston School.
Students included in this masterpiece were Maggie Porciello, Harrison L. Ben G. and Arlo B., whose commercial highlighted the county’s annual drug take-back day and was made possible through Queen Anne’s County Television.
The team received $500 for their school’s preforming arts department.
The winning commercial is available for viewing at https://qactv.com.
The county commissioners also recognized 26 QAC Drug Free Student Ambassadors for effectively raising awareness about the dangers of opioids while promoting substance free living among their peers in the community.
“Their dedication to personal growth and unwavering resolve to share their beliefs make them truly deserving of this recognition,” Wright said.
Through their time as ambassadors, students learn about drug facts to pass on to peers and together, the ambassadors put forth a total of 999 service hours in the 2023-2024 school year, he said.
The Ambassadors have been recognized for continually coming up with new ideas to spread the message of drug free-living throughout the county.
Acting as role models for fellow students, the ambassadors support community events including a float in the Centreville Christmas Parade, working on the Queenstown Outlet Storefront project and designing the QAC Goes Purple Escape Room to be offered June 1 and 2.
Special recognition was given to Maggie Porciello for her commitment and leading by example to serve as a mentor to fellow ambassadors.
“She has been actively engaged in every county activity, which is vividly reflected in her astounding contribution of 130.75 volunteered hours,” Kille said.
Notable recognition was also presented to graduating ambassadors, thanking them for their dedication to the community as they balance the next phase of their lives.
The county commissioners noted the immeasurable impact the QAC Drug Free Student Ambassadors make on the community and encouraged them to continually share all they learn.
Prizes and recognitions were made possible through generous donations and the Drug Free Coalition thanked the volunteers and advocates that supported it in ensuring success.
Through grant funding, community support and engaging student involvement, “We are finally able to reach the people we want to,” Wright said.
Opioid awareness is a community wide effort with various organizations and county agencies involved with unwavering support, including the county commissioners, the Board of Education, the health department and the sheriff’s and fire departments, according to Wright.
“It grows every year,” he said.
More information about QAC Drug Free Coalition can be found at the BOE website at https://www.qacps.org as well as qacgoespurple.org.
The Drug Free Coalition is on social media @QACDFC and @QACGoesPurple.
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