HARRISBURG - During a ceremony in The State Museum of Pennsylvania, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board recognized 50 students who participated in the 24th annual Alcohol Awareness Poster Contest.

"Studies have shown that peer-to-peer messaging is one of the most effective ways to reach children and teenagers. That's why the Alcohol Awareness Poster Contest is so important. Young people design artwork that conveys a message to other young people," said PLCB Chairman Tim Holden. "And our contest ensures these are positive no-use messages. It's better to provide messages that encourage fun, healthy, safe alternatives to underage drinking."In their winning poster designs, students focused on positive messages, such as the benefits of being alcohol-free and healthy alternatives to drinking, such as hobbies and extracurricular activities.The PLCB will use the designs to create posters, bookmarks and coloring sheets to distribute throughout Pennsylvania. In addition, the grade winners will have their artwork reproduced in a calendar.Students who created the best pieces received cash prizes.Nearly 1,300 students from 49 counties across the state participated in this year's contest, using crayons, ink, colored pencils, paint and computer-generated imagery to create their posters. Their entries were judged on presentation and message. Since the poster contest began in 1992, almost 35,000 entries have been submitted, and thousands more students have participated through projects in their school classrooms."Every year, we are always impressed not just with the artistic talent displayed by Pennsylvania students, but by the creativity of the alcohol awareness messages depicted in these posters," said board member Mike Negra. "It's encouraging to know that so many students in every grade and from every corner of the state take this contest so seriously and put so much effort into developing art that really speaks to their peers."Area winnersGrade winners Michael Montalvo, 9, Weatherly Area, and Zenya Hrycenko, 10, Lehigh Valley home school, won $50 each.Jasmine Montalvo, 9, Weatherly Area, won $100 for reproductions.Zoe Downs, 10, Weatherly Area; Shaianne Perkins, 12, Weatherly Area; and Zenon Hrycenko, 8, Lehigh Valley home school received special recognition