Media Alert: 13th Annual Project Sentry Logo Contest Winners Announced

Contact Person: D. Josev Brewer (864) 282-2100

Columbia, South Carolina ---- United States Attorney Bill Nettles announced today the winners of the United States Attorney's Office 13th Annual Project Sentry Logo Contest. The winners are from the following schools:

K-2nd grade division winner: Ean Bane, Ocean Drive Elementary, North Myrtle Beach, SC
3rd-5th grade division winner: Kaden Crawford, Reuben Elementary, Newberry, SC
6th-8th grade division winner: Elias Ryans, Westview Middle School, Greenwood SC
9th-12th grade division winner: Elody Bensch, Waccamaw High School, Pawley’s Island SC
Overall winner: Elias Ryans, Westview Middle School, Greenwood SC

The winners were chosen from one hundred and ten (110) entries from thirteen (13) schools across South Carolina. Each division winner will receive a $50.00 award, with the overall winner receiving an additional $50.00 award. All of the students who participated will receive a Certificate of Appreciation for logo submissions.

The statewide contest provides an opportunity for South Carolina students to express their commitment to non-violence and share how they would prevent gun violence in their school. The contest is intended to focus on deterring juvenile gun violence and ensuring secure school environments. The contest was open to students in all South Carolina schools.

Importantly, 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 below), as well as winning logos over the years, visit http://www.justice.gov/usao/sc/programs/logowinners.html.

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