FROM STAFF REPORTS

The Alabama Alcoholic Beverage Control Board is honoring the creativity and commitment of Alabama middle and high school students who recently participated in the agency’s “Dangers of Underage Drinking” essay, poster and video contest.

Two local students were among this year’s contest winners.

Columbiana Middle School students Jacob Fox and Tanner Stogner won second place for their video.

Nearly 250 students submitted more than 70 entries in the three separate competitions.

Thanks to a grant from the National Alcoholic Beverage Control Association, the ABC Board asked middle and high school students to write essays, draw posters and produce videos that discourage young people from underage and binge drinking.

The contest is part of the ABC Board’s school-based “Under Age, Under Arrest” public education and awareness campaign that seeks to inform students about the dangers and consequences of underage drinking.

Winning entries were selected for first, second and third place prizes in both the middle and high school categories, for a total of 18 winners.

First-place winners were awarded $300, second-place winners received $200 and third-place winners received $100.

Students were encouraged to submit individual and team entries.

Contest entries had to be signed by a teacher or faculty member from each school and the videos had to be submitted with a release form for all participants.

The winners will be recognized during the Alabama ABC Board’s June 26 regularly scheduled meeting.

First-, second- and third-place entries will appear on the ABC Board’s website and will be shared via social media.

The first-place winning video may be used as a public service announcement.