Per Montgomery County:
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, May 24, 2022
Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) and the Montgomery County Police Department have announced the high school and middle school winners of the 2021-22 “Keeping it Safe Coalition” student video contest. The annual contest encouraged teams from Montgomery County public and private schools to create 30-second public service announcements to educate young people about the risks of under-21 alcohol use. The winning entries will receive cash prizes for their affiliated school. In this year’s contest, 75 videos were submitted from 38 schools.
Founded in 1992, the Keeping It Safe Coalition (KIS) is an alliance of County departments, local organizations and concerned residents that work to deter underage alcohol access and use. The student video contest was funded by the Montgomery County Department of Police’s Traffic Division.
“Alcohol is the most widely used substance among America’s youth and under-21 drinking is a public health problem in the United States,” said ABS Director Kathie Durbin. “Video contests, such as this one, provide students with the opportunity to engage in advocacy with their peers and raise awareness about the dangers and consequences of under-21 drinking.”
Winning school groups were announced on May 19 through a virtual award ceremony.
The winning videos can be viewed from the ABS website.
The 2021-22 high school award winners:
- First Place: Winston Churchill High School. Students Ida Chen and Isar Uslu. Will receive a $1,000 prize.
- Second Place: Damascus High School. Students Helen Andino Carranza and Brandon Lopez-Ventura. With the collaboration of Jayson Andino Carranza from John T. Baker Middle School. Will receive a $500 prize.
- Third Place: Northwood High School. Student Hailie Clark. Sponsoring teacher Iris Schwarz. Will receive a $350 prize.
- Honorable Mention: Quince Orchard High School will receive a $100 prize.
The 2021-22 middle school award winners:
- First Place: Briggs Chaney Middle School will receive a $500 prize.
- Second Place: Westland Middle School. Students Alana Anantham, Noa Geller and Celia Markowitz. With the collaboration of Asher Anantham from Montgomery Blair High School. Will receive a $300 prize.
- Third Place: Hallie Wells Middle School. Students Tia Daher and Hannah Matthew. Will receive a $250 prize.
- Honorable Mention: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School. Student Saesha Dhote. Sponsoring teacher Lisa Wroblewski. Will receive a $100 prize.
For the first time this year, Travel Television, a member of the Keeping It Safe Coalition, sponsored the Most Popular video award for both high school and middle school participants. The award recognized the video with the most online views and “likes.”
The Most Popular Video for High School and Middle school winner:
- Paint Branch High School. Students Kwabena Appiah, Andres De La O Zelaya and James Abraham. Will receive $150, payable directly to the students.
The Keeping It Safe Coalition also presented the Walter Milam Memorial Law Enforcement Award to Lee Williams, an alcohol tobacco enforcement specialist with ABS’ Division of Licensure, Regulation and Education for his work and commitment to under-21 alcohol prevention.
Through robust alcohol licensing, compliance and training programs, the Division of Licensing, Regulation, and Education (LRE) within ABS ensures the responsible sale and service of alcohol. LRE has been an active supporter of KIS for decades.
ABS is the alcohol wholesaler of beer, wine, and spirits for Montgomery County. ABS operates 25 beer, wine and spirits stores and one spirits-only store in Poolesville. It manages alcohol licensing, enforcement, and education for more than 1,000 businesses. Generating more than $35 million in net income annually, ABS profits are used to pay down County debt with a large portion deposited in the County general fund to pay for resident services that would otherwise be funded by County tax dollars.
Visit https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/ABS/ to learn more about ABS and follow on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
# # #
Recent Stories
Megan Lee of Watkins Mill High School and Kairo Maysonet Walker of Julius West Middle School were the top winners in their respective categories in this year’s “Keeping it Safe…
It has been nearly 10 years since Walmart officially abandoned its plans to open a store in Aspen Hill. The retail giant was intending to build a 118,000-square-foot store with expanded…
The Office of Governor Moore issued the following news release on Friday, May 17:
The City of Rockville is inviting the public to review and offer feedback on the newly released draft of the updated Town Center Master Plan.
FEST OF SPRING Caribbean Wine Food & Music Festival
Get ready to experience the vibrant colors, tantalizing flavors, and infectious rhythms of the Caribbean at the FEST OF SPRING Caribbean Wine Food & Music Festival! Hosted by RHU LLC, this exciting festival is set to take place on May 18, 2024, at the picturesque 16700 Barnesville Rd in Boyds, MD.
Step into a world where the Caribbean spirit comes alive! From 12:00 PM onwards, immerse yourself in a sensory journey that celebrates the unique culture, cuisine, and music of the Caribbean. Whether you’re an African American, a Reggae or Soca music enthusiast, a wine lover, or part of the vibrant Caribbean diaspora, this festival promises to delight and captivate you in every way.
