United States Drug Enforcement Administration

OMAHA, Neb. – Sigourney Elementary School Principal Deanna Hutchings was presented a $1,000 check by Drug Enforcement Administration Des Moines Resident Office staff, March 18, after Wells and Owen Clark and their family were recognized as one of 20 2018 Red Ribbon Week Photo Contest winners.

To qualify for the eighth annual National Red Ribbon Week Photo Contest, families and schools were invited to decorate the front of their homes or school campuses with a double-looped red ribbon and the words of the 2018 theme, “Life is Your Journey. Travel Drug Free.” Each family or school then submitted a photo of their decorations. The contest, which is co-sponsored by the DEA, was held in conjunction with the 33rd annual National Red Ribbon Week.

A total of $20,000 is being awarded to K-12 schools across the nation, which includes 10 winners who received the most votes in their region and 10 winners who were selected for Judges Awards. The Clark family received a Judges Award for most creative home and was presented with an iPad. The Clark brothers were two of three students within the Omaha Division, which includes Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota, to earn national recognition.

“It’s always an honor for us to present these awards to students within our division,” Special Agent in Charge Richard Salter said. “Wells and Owen did a great job really capturing the 2018 theme in their photo contest entry, and I’d like to personally congratulate them on their award. Red Ribbon week is very important to us as it provides us with a way to reach out to students and educate them on the risks and dangers of drugs, while also encouraging them to stay drug free.”

This year’s Red Ribbon Week will be held October 23-31, with the theme, “Send a Message. Stay Drug Free.” Red Ribbon Week is the nation’s largest and oldest drug prevention campaign and reaches over 80 million people each year throughout the United States. Be sure to visit www.redribbon.org for details about the 2019 National Red Ribbon Week Photo Contest.

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