Contributed by Noel Crowley-Bell
Mat-Su students from across the Valley submitted art for the 1st Annual #BeTheFirst Generation To Be Tobacco Free Poster Contest. Twenty-seven entrants representing seven different schools are currently on display at the Wasilla Museum Visitor Center in the old schoolhouse through April 21st. Winning entries from elementary, middle and high school were chosen for first, second and third place categories. A grand prize winner was then selected from the first place entrants.
Breathe Free Mat-Su appreciates the time and thought each student put into their work. The work submitted by students were primarily of their own initiatives and based in part on an adult who alerted the students to the opportunity connected to the call for entries. Thank you to Ms. Grinnell at Colony High School, Deborah Kaschan at Boys and Girls Club, Wasilla and teachers Leann Marquad and Sheryl Lloyd at Burchell High School. We would love to take this opportunity to publish all the names of the winners; however, we are still in process of contacting several of the winners and feel it is unfair to publish only a few names. Images shown are of those images students have authorized Breathe Free Mat-Su to publish. Breathe Free Mat-Su looks forward, however, to publishing their work or ad campaigns based on student work very soon.
Designs were judged first on clarity of message: How well was the concept of not smoking depicted? And secondarily on imagery: How well did the drawing support the message? Breathe Free Mat-Su would like to extend a thank you to the artists who lent time and expertise in judging the art: Emily Gelino–Bequette, who currently has a one-woman-show on display in Anchorage at the Midnight Sun Café and Nadia Rasua who is currently working as part of a collective of artists on the “Unearthed Book”. We truly appreciate their willingness to help out on this project.
Recognition is also due to several local businesses who stepped up and showed support for these hardworking students. Our own Valley River Cinemas and the Extreme Fun Center made donations of gift cards for first, second and third place winners. Additionally we want to thank the Extreme Fun Center for displaying the signed #BeTheFirst Banners the week of March 30th to April 6th. A thank you to Alaska Family Services, Inc. who covered the grand prize gift card to the Extreme Fun Center. And of course, a big thank you to the City of Wasilla, Wasilla Museum Visitor Center for hosting the show April 7th-21st.
It’s important to note that this doesn’t cover all the creative work Mat-Su students are doing this year in the Valley. A class from Burchell High School will be having a “Reveal” Party on April 20th at Valley Performing Arts from 5:00pm to 7:00pm showcasing three videos they wrote, produced and star in related to tobacco use and the benefits of quitting. The community is welcome and tickets are free. We encourage your support of this generation as they focus on choosing lifestyles that embrace health, for themselves and the ones who matter to them.
