HARRISBURG, Pa., April 15, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board today recognized 50 winners of the 22nd annual Alcohol Education Poster Contest.

"The poster contest is a great way for parents and teachers to start a conversation with children about the dangers of alcohol and it's a conversation that needs to be had," said PLCB Chairman Joseph E. Brion. "According to the 2012 Pennsylvania Youth Survey, nearly 15 percent of sixth-graders had tried alcohol, and almost 7 out of every 10 high school seniors had already taken their first alcoholic drink.  That means, there's a lot of work to be done."

In some of the winning poster designs, students relayed messages including "Don't Let Alcohol Grab You" (with a large bottle chasing a teenager); "It Can Wait" until you're 21; "Be Strong, Don't Drink" (featuring the drawing of a bodybuilder); and "These shots are good for your health" (featuring people playing basketball).

"Every year, we are amazed and encouraged by the entries we receive from our young artists at all age levels. Their creativity is tremendous, but their messages are even more impressive," said Board member Robert S. Marcus. "Art has always been a way for young people to express themselves and these students couldn't be clearer in promoting alternatives to underage drinking."

The PLCB will use the student designs to create posters, bookmarks and coloring sheets to share with students throughout Pennsylvania. In addition, the grade winners will have their artwork reproduced in a calendar that will be distributed as well. For their efforts, students who created the best pieces will receive cash prizes.

"Just last week, I presented awards to the winners of the Liquor Control Board's first Alcohol Education Video Contest. The winning students had produced unique messages for their peers discouraging underage drinking," said Tim Holden, PLCB member.  "Like the video contest, this poster contest gives children and young adults the opportunity to be leaders and make a positive difference in their schools and communities."

The winning posters will be displayed in the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg from April 14 through April 18.

For more information about the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board and the annual Alcohol Education Poster Contest, visit www.lcb.state.pa.us.

Media contact: Shawn M. Kelly, 717.783.8864

Editor's Note – This year's contest winners are:
Beaver County
Stephen McCutcheon, 10th Grade, Hopewell High School

Bedford County
Iacopo Ricci, 11th Grade, Tussey Mountain Senior High School
Tori Smith, 12th Grade, Tussey Mountain Senior High School

Berks County
Tyler Hulse, Seventh Grade, Tulpehocken Junior High School
Brandon Missimer, Seventh Grade, Tulpehocken Junior High School
Alivia Klopp, Eighth Grade, Tulpehocken Junior High School

Butler County
Brooke Cenci, Second Grade, Mars Area Elementary School
Claire Valentine, Seventh Grade, Mars Area Middle School

Cambria County
Bailey Hildebrand, Ninth Grade, Central Cambria High School
Julia Schaffer, Ninth Grade, Central Cambria High School
Emma Wess, Ninth Grade, Central Cambria High School
Heidi Hendrickson, 11th Grade, Central Cambria High School

Carbon County
Sienna Brown, Kindergarten, Weatherly Area Elementary/Middle School
* C.L., Kindergarten, Weatherly Area Elementary School
Emma Kane, Third Grade, Weatherly Area Elementary/Middle School
Amanda N. Colecio, Fifth Grade, Weatherly Area Elementary/Middle School
Shelby Berger, 10th Grade, Weatherly Area High School
* A.H., 11th Grade, Weatherly Area High School
Cassidy Piskorick, 12th Grade, Weatherly Area High School
Garrett Fisher, 12th Grade, Weatherly Area High School

Centre County
Jaelyn Smith, Sixth Grade, Bellefonte Area Middle School
Joseph Bertolino, Ninth Grade, Bellefonte Area High School

Chester County
Kerry Reynolds, Seventh Grade, Homeschool
Melissa Schmelzer, Ninth Grade, PA Leadership Charter School
* M.S., 10th Grade, PA Leadership Charter School
Andrew Reynolds, 12th Grade, Homeschool

Crawford County
Desiree Cropek, Fourth Grade, Conneaut Valley Elementary School
Jaidyn Ramirez, Fifth Grade, West End Elementary School

Cumberland County
Gianna Heil, Third Grade, Immaculata Academy Homeschool
Amber Ulrich, Fifth Grade, Upper Allen Elementary School
Isabel Villegas, Eighth Grade, Mechanicsburg Middle School
Josemaria Heil, 10th Grade, Immaculata Academy Homeschool
Isaac Kuhn, 12th Grade, Cumberland Perry Area Vocational-Technical School

Dauphin County
Addisyn Forney, First Grade, Upper Dauphin Area Elementary School
Kaci Mattern, First Grade, Upper Dauphin Area Elementary School
Jordan Peiffer, Second Grade, Upper Dauphin Area Elementary School
Emily Weaver, Second Grade, Upper Dauphin Area Elementary School

Delaware County
Declan McNelis, First Grade, Westbrook Park Elementary School
Gabbi Hanes, 11th Grade, PA Leadership Charter School

Erie County
* K.M., Seventh Grade, Rice Avenue Middle School

Fayette County
Joshua Proud, Fourth Grade, Hatfield Elementary School

Lancaster County
Shannon Wurts, 12th Grade, Conestoga Valley Senior High School

Lehigh County
* Z.H., Sixth Grade, Lehigh Valley Home School
* Z.H., Eighth Grade, Lehigh Valley Home School

Luzerne County
Emily Trella, Third Grade, Heights-Terrace Elementary/Middle School
* J.W., Fifth Grade, Drums Elementary/Middle School
Maria Aliaga, Ninth Grade, Hazleton Area High School

Venango County
Austin Shaw, Ninth Grade, Maplewood High School

York County
Ashlynn Corrigan, 11th Grade, Kennard-Dale High School
Marlaina McConville, 12th Grade, Kennard-Dale High School

* = Some identifying information has been withheld by family request

SOURCE Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board