During Red Ribbon Week, which is celebrated annually from October 23-31, students in the upper grades at Meadowlark Elementary School created original art to convey the message of a drug free lifestyle; whereas, the younger students colored Red Ribbon Week coloring pages. Over the weekend of November 4-5, Art Teacher, Ms. Shay Waldbillig judged that artwork and determined a winner from each K-6 classroom.

From Ms. Hasler’s Kindergarten, Shirley Harry was selected as a winner, while McKenzie Fisher from Ms. Brennen’s first grade and Clay Elliot from Mrs. Edwards’ combination first-second grade classroom were declared top coloring artists.

From Mrs. Barber’s second grade, Aurora Scovel’s art stood out as unique with its rainbow border, and Laval Inman from Mrs. Davies’ third grade class emerged victorious, in part because of her heart motif.

A fourth grader in Mr. Gordon’s class, Ellary Zuelke created a ribbon- worthy student living a drug-free lifestyle. Zuelke’s poster read: “Drugs will give you a scar. Help your heart give you a good life.”

Fifth grader Janna Snedigar from Mrs. MacLeod’s classroom encouraged everyone to join Team Nice by saying no to drugs and bullying. Furthermore, from Mrs. Noel’s sixth grade, Jaxton Crowley took top honors with his Drug Busters message. Imitating the Ghostbusters motif, Crowley’s poster communicates: “We ain’t afraid to say NO!” Finally, with her messages: “Don’t Do Drugs, Be Like Me, and Drugs Are Bad,” Alisha Munari from Mrs. Deanon’s sixth grader classroom took the win.

The theme for the 2023 campaign was “Be Kind to Your Mind. Live Drug Free.” That theme was adopted after being submitted by Danielle Helm, a Youth Service Coordinator from Russell County Middle School in Russell Springs, Kentucky.

Red Ribbon Week highlights the importance of living a drug-free life. It presents an opportunity for parents, educators, and communities to reinforce the drug-free messages they share with their children throughout the year. During Red Ribbon Week, youth and adults around the nation pledge to increase their knowledge by learning more about the destructive effects of drug abuse, including prescription drug misuse, and renew their commitment to live a healthy, drug-free lifestyle.