Radford Office on Youth
30 First Street Radford, Virginia 24141
Phone: (540) 639-6698
Fax: (540) 731-4857

PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST

07-01-02 The Radford Office on Youth would like to announce a statewide photography contest for youth rising into the 6th through 12th grades whom have made the decision to avoid alcohol, drugs, sex, tobacco, and violence through high school. The contest is part of the Right Choices for Youth statewide initiative focused on helping youth achieve the brightest futures by avoiding unhealthy risk behaviors. The goal is to help all youth and the adults in their lives focus on protective factors for a young person and identify and enhance the factors that lead to success, such as parent/child connectedness, school/child connectedness, good grades, religiosity, etc.

The contest is called Real Life, Real Choices and provides an opportunity to highlight young people throughout Virginia who are seeking to make good decisions that will lead to their future good health and well being. The contest is sponsored by the Institute for Youth Development with support from the Virginia Family and Children's Trust Located in Richmond.

The contest theme is Real Life, Real Choices. Photographs should capture activities, which youth engage in during the week, at home, at school, in the community, or with family and friends that lay a foundation for a healthy, successful future. Contest photos will be judged in two age categories, 6th through 8th grade, and 9th through 12th grade. Entry photos should fall into 1 of 6 categories: School, Family, Home, Community, Friends, and Other.

Fourteen entries will be winners! One winning entry will be chosen from each of the six categories in each age bracket. In addition, one grand prize and one second prize winner will be selected. Prizes include a $1,500.00 scholarship, a $1,000.00 scholarship, twelve $500.00 scholarships, gift certificates, camera equipment, and other great prizes.

All participants must agree with the Right Choices for Youth Virginia Leader Pledge that reflects a commitment to make right choices to avoid alcohol, drugs, sex, tobacco, and violence through high school. A signed pledge form must be submitted with the entry form. Entries must be submitted to the Radford Office on Youth no later than 5:00 pm, July 14, 2002. For more information about contest rules and guidelines contact the Kevin Heller at 639-6698.