15th Annual Project Sentry Logo/Meme Contest Winners Announced

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Beth Drake announced today the winners of the United States Attorney’s Office 15th Annual Project Sentry Logo/Meme Contest.  The winners are from the following schools:

 K-2nd grade division winner: Samantha Bitts (Grade 2), Ocean Drive Elementary School, N. Myrtle Beach, SC

3rd-5th grade division winner: Ayden Downey (Grade 3), Ocean Drive Elementary School, N. Myrtle Beach, SC

6th-8th grade division winner: Alexia Hernandez (Grade 6), Fairfield Magnet School for Math and Science, Winnsboro, SC

9th-12th grade division: Nia Lott (Grade 11), Strom Thurmond High School, Johnston, SC

Overall winner: Alexia Hernandez (Grade 6), Fairfield Magnet School for Math and Science, Winnsboro, SC

Honorable mentions:

Nacyjai McKensey (Grade 6), St. James- Sumter Elementary and Middle School, McClellanville, SC

Emily Ulmer (Grade 7), Bamberg-Ehrhardt Middle School, Bamberg, SC

Samone Stevens (Grade 12), Strom Thurmond High School, Johnston, SC

Tamara Pendarvis (Grade 12), Garrett Academy of Technology, N. Charleston, SC

The winners were chosen from 104 entries from eight schools across South Carolina.  Each division winner will receive a $50.00 award, with the overall winner receiving an additional $50.00 award. The winners will receive their awards during upcoming school award ceremonies. All of the students who participated will receive a Certificate of Appreciation for logo/meme submissions.

The statewide contest fosters an opportunity for South Carolina students to tell the entire state how they prevent gun violence in their school and focuses on deterrence of juvenile gun violence and ensuring secure school environments.  The contest was open to students in all South Carolina schools.

The winning entries were selected by “The Insiders,” a select group of students from the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice, who travel throughout the state, encouraging troubled children and promoting community awareness of the prevalence and consequences of juvenile crime.  The U.S. Attorney's Office coordinated with the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers’ Association Foundation (SCLEOA) to provide the cash awards to the winners.

Project Sentry, which is part of the district’s Project Safe Neighborhoods/Project CeaseFire program, is a vital step in strengthening our ability to prevent gun crimes among our young people and to ensure a safe learning atmosphere for our children.  For more information on the Project Sentry program and to view this year’s winning submissions (also attached) as well as winning logos over the years, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/sc/programs/logowinners.html

U.S. Attorney Beth Drake commended the students and their engagement on helping foster this very important dialogue. "Thanks to all of the students who participated and congratulations to our winners! The students demonstrated some real wisdom we can all learn from."

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