Local Eighth Grader’s Design to be printed on this Year’s Drug Quiz Show T-shirts

SYRACUSE, March 10, 2010— The Rite Aid Drug Quiz Show has announced this years finalists in the 2010 T-shirt Design Contest.

The contest challenges students in grades 3-8 to express their resistance to drugs through a creative drawing that conveys a powerful prevention message.

This year, Madelyn Fetzko, an eighth grader from Sherburne-Earlville Middle School in Earlville New York has won the ultimate prize. Her first place design will appear on this year’s Drug Quiz Show T-Shirts given to all participants at the Onondaga County Play-offs and New York State Regional Play-offs.

Fetzko was chosen among 397 other participants. Winning entries were selected by a distinguished panel of judges consisting of Beth Hurny, Director of Youth and Parenting Services, Prevention Network/OCAA; Maura Bowman, Communications Specialist, Prevention Network/OCAA; and Tom Gilhooly, Creative Supervisor, Eric Mower and Associates. The judges selected a first, second and third place winner from the following grade categories; 3-4 grade, 5-6 grade and 7-8 grade. The winners received iPods, Blockbuster and Rite Aid gift cards ranging from $25, $15, $10 respectively.  The Rite Aid Drug Quiz Show “Teen Advisory Council” voted on the overall winner from the nine final designs.

“I continue to be impressed by the artistic quality and impactful messages our students have to offer through their designs” said Executive Director Susan Meidenbauer.  “The students’ designs are a reflection of what they learn in both the Rite Aid Drug Quiz Show program and their peer groups.”

This year’s first place winners included Sophia Burns,a third grader from St. Daniel-St. Matthew Academy in East Syracuse; and Amy DeGaetano, a sixth grader from Dryden Middle School in Dryden.

Other finalists were: Spencer Vono (fourth grade/Blessed Sacrament School), Lily Walker (fourth grade/St. Daniel-St. Matthew Academy), Danielle Yerdon (sixth grade/St. Daniel-St. Matthew Academy), Megan Hotaling (sixth grade/Otselic Valley Central School), Breana Karrat (seventh grade/Clinton Middle School) and  Shayna Fick (seventh grade/Clinton Middle School).

About the Rite Aid Quiz Show

The Rite Aid Drug Quiz Show, a statewide drug and alcohol prevention and education program for students in grades 5-8, has earned statewide accolades for heightening home, school, and community substance abuse awareness. Each year it challenges more than 30,000 adolescents to test their knowledge of tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs during a game-show style competition. Students begin with classroom or school-wide playoffs to select a team that they hope will advance to district and regional events, leading up to the New York State Regional Playoffs and the New York State Finals.  Final champions receive plaques and trophies as well as $300 to put toward a drug-free night on the town.

For more information, contact Susan Meidenbauer at 315-471-3624 or visit the website at www.drugquizshow.org