Student Art Sends Anti-Drug Message

On canvas and on YouTube, local grade schoolers have taken their anti-drug messages public. 

It's called the Teen Substance Abuse Awareness Through Art contest, and it's sponsored by the anti-drug group IMPACT, the police departments in  and , along with and . 

The goal of the program, organzers said, was "to create an opportunity for aspiring middle school artists to express their views about the dangers of substance use and addiction."

More than 160 local middle schoolers, working solo or in groups of up to three, participated in the inaugural contest. Their works — 125 in total — were displayed at the  gallery on Nov. 1. 

Here's a look at the winners, as judged by Oak Park Village President David Pope, River Forest Village President John Rigas, Oak Park Police Deputy Chief Tony Ambrose, River Forest police officer Mike Thornley, Oak Park liquor control commissioner and local artists Claire Ashley and Laura Myntti: 

Best of Show

"Choose a Better Life" by James Ungaretti, 7th grader at

Oak Park entries

First place: "Walk Away" by Laurand Royal, Leah Silver and Esther Ramsay, 8th graders at Second place: "Make Your Own Decisions" by Jen Eisner, 8th grader at Third place: "Puppet" by Sophia Iannacone, 8th grader at

River Forest entries

First place: "Your Life is Your Choice" by Julia Krause, 7th grader at Second place: "Don’t Let Drugs Change You" by Elizabeth Muraiti, 8th grader at Third Place: "Throw it on the Ground!" by Michael Tucci, Michael Danganan and Jacob Schaider, 8th graders at

Prizes included more than $1,000 in gift cards are were donated by the local police departments and the River Forest FOP Lodge 46.