Clearview Elementary students in second through fifth grade recently participated in the Clearwater Lions and Lioness club’s annual drug awareness poster contest. The winners advanced to the district contest, where Clearview student Cami M. was awarded first place in the third-grade category.

 

The students created their posters in art teacher Anna Barton’s classes. Each student came up with their own anti-drug message and then illustrated that message on their poster. The project gets the students to stop and think about the effects of drugs and why they should avoid them.

 

The students’ completed posters are brought to the Clearwater Lions and Lionesses, who select winners from each classroom based on the student’s message, neatness and creativity. Cash prizes are awarded to the winners.

 

“We think it’s such a huge message to do with these kids,” said Clearwater Lioness Mary Abraham, who stated the club plans to continue the poster contest.

Many of the students used animals or puns, said Barton, including Adyson P., who used an owl and unicorn to illustrate the message, “Whooo uses drugs anymore? Even unicorns don’t.”

 

Zoe L. also used a pun for her “Don’t do drugs or you’ll be toast” poster that featured a toaster.

 

“I really like sports,” said Zoya R., “I think sports are a good thing to do instead of drugs. That’s why I made my poster, ‘Don’t do drugs do sports instead.’”

 

Winners this year include second graders Hadley R., first place, Katie G., second place, Isla B., third place, third graders Cami M., first place, June S., second place, Victoria M., third place, fourth graders Zoe L., first place, Zoya R., second place, Lila H., third place, fifth graders Grady D., first place, Allison D., second place, and Adyson P., third place.

 

First place winners from each grade advanced on to the 2019 Midwest Convention drug awareness poster contest, where they competed against winners from other clubs in the Lions District 5m7, which is made up of 52 clubs. Each club works with an elementary school within their community. 

 

Cami M. beat out the other contestants in the third-grade category, and will be honored on Feb. 28 during the Clearwater Lions’ dinner, which the 5m7 district governor has been invited to attend. She will receive a plaque and cash award.

 

“I like to draw and I don’t like drugs, so I decided to make the drug sign be erased,” said Cami, whose colorful poster depicts animals and the word “drug” being erased with a pencil eraser.

 

She found out she had won during morning school announcements.

 

“I felt kind-of embarrassed because everyone was looking at me,” she said. “But then I felt excited for myself.”

 

The winning drug posters are on display outside the art room at Clearview.