The Schuyler County Coalition on Underage Drinking and Drugs(SCCUDD) held its 2nd annual Pizza Box Sticker Shock event in December 2021at area stores and restaurants that sell take-out pizza. A sticker design contest was held for Schuyler county students to come up with the sticker that was to be placed on nearly 3,000 pizza boxes. All students attending Odessa-Montour Central School, Watkins Glen Central School, and Bradford Central School were eligible, including homeschool students residing in Schuyler County.
Stickers that were created were to have a message that informed about the dangers of underage drinking and drugs. The winning sticker design was created by Hanlon Elementary student Peter Dechow of Montour Falls. His message of “Pizza is good! Drugs are bad! Which will you choose?” was placed on the nearly 3000 area pizza boxes.
Other entries were placed on SCCUDD multi-media during the month of December, and each contestant was to receive a SCCUDD “Shining Star” certificate in recognition of participation. “Because of the continued amazing talent and dedication to prevention, we wanted to do something more for these students” stated SCCUDD Project Coordinator Ward Brower.
SCCUDD President Karen Thurston came up with the idea to turn all the contestant’s artwork into buttons that they could “wear their prevention message”. “It is so important for the youth to voice their own prevention message. OMCS and Hanlon Elementary School are definitely the leaders of substance use prevention in Schuyler County and they should all be very proud of their efforts. ” stated Karen Thurston.
Participants included: B.C. Cate 2nd Grade students Emily Mahaney, Gabriel Gunning, and Kenly Crout. Hanlon Elementary 3rd grade students Ariana Kurtz, Colby Keener, Hannah Harrison, Havannah Halstead, Jaxson Pound, JonLuke Sindone, and Owen Dupay. Hanlon Elementary 4th grade students Hunter Albertsman, Molly Mahaney, and Seth Breckenridge. Hanlon Elementary 5th grade students Greyson Schock, Lila Voorheis, and Paxton Porter. Hanlon Elementary 6th grade students Lilly Bond, Odessa Arrance, Peter Dechow, Payton Jenden, Paige Bailey, and Shelby Crout. Odessa-Montour Jr/Sr High school students included 8th grade Ean Walsh, and 12th grade student Haley Albertsman.
Schuyler County students will have another chance to show off their art, and create their own prevention messages as SCCUDD will be holding a contest for their 2nd annual Alcohol Retailer Sticker shock, where someone’s prevention message will be made into stickers placed on nearly 4,000 units of alcohol and retail bags between the last weeks of June and the 4th of July. Those interested in the contest can contact their school’s main office or SCCUDD directly.
SCCUDD is a group of dedicated community members, businesses, and agencies that work to prevent, reduce, and delay the onset of substance use among Schuyler County youth by collaborating with our community partners, promoting prevention education and substance-free activities, and implementing environmental strategies. SCCUDD works to reduce youth use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs as they can cause lifelong problems. SCCUDD’s vision is a connected community where youth have education, resources, and drug-free options to help their journey to become happy, healthy adults.
For more information, or to become involved with SCCUDD, visit SCCUDD online or follow SCCUDD on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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