Calico Rock Elementary Sweeps Statewide “My Reason To Write” Contest
Calico Rock Elementary’s Project Prevent Next Generation students earned a rare and outstanding achievement this year, taking all three top placements in Arkansas’s statewide My Reason To Write contest. The competition invites 4th–6th grade students to share personal messages encouraging their peers to live tobacco free and nicotine free, giving young people a powerful platform to influence positive change.
The contest is part of Project Prevent Arkansas, a youth led initiative supported by the Arkansas Department of Health’s Tobacco Prevention & Cessation Program. The coalition empowers students to use their voices, creativity, and leadership to promote healthy, tobacco free lifestyles in their schools and communities.
This year’s Calico Rock Elementary winners are:
• 1st Place – Jace Hicks Prize: Diary of a Wimpy Kid Kindle Paperwhite
• 2nd Place – Jesekiah Adams Prize: Apple Earbuds
• 3rd Place – Athena Cox Prize: Scrib3D Drawing Pens
“These students showed tremendous heart and leadership,” said Izard County Hometown Health and Prevention Secretary, Olivia Bennett-Bear. “Their messages reflect the mission of Project Prevent—to help young people speak up, support one another, and build a healthier future for Arkansas.”
Drawing for a Difference – K–3rd Grade Division
In addition to the writing competition, younger students participated in Drawing for a Difference, a companion contest for Kindergarten through 3rd grade that uses art as a creative tool to teach tobacco and nicotine prevention. Students were encouraged to illustrate how nicotine harms the body and to create positive, youth driven messages that discourage their peers from using nicotine. This early elementary division helps build awareness at a young age and empowers students to become leaders in promoting healthy, nicotine free lifestyles.
Project Prevent Arkansas continues to expand youth engagement across the state, encouraging students to take an active role in tobacco and nicotine prevention through education, advocacy, and peer influence.
For more information about Project Prevent Arkansas, visit projectpreventar.org.
