Second grader Emily Woods from Stratford Landing Elementary was among 16 top winners in the Fairfax County Public Schools' (FCPS) Annual Safe and Drug-Free Youth Bookmark Contest. At a special reception held March 3, at Fairfax High School, Woods was awarded a plaque, a $50 savings bond and a $50 scholarship. In addition, her bookmark will be among the 16 winning bookmarks that will be distributed to all Fairfax County Public Schools in the 2002-2003 school year. Her "safe and drug free" message will reach thousands of students. While working on her bookmark, Woods asked her mother questions about drugs. "I learned a lot about why drugs are bad for you," she said. As soon as her bookmark is printed and distributed, she will have the chance to share that lesson with thousands of other kids throughout the county.
The Annual Bookmark Contest is sponsored by Arts and Education in Concert, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Outback Steakhouse and the Arlington-Fairfax Elks Lodge #2188 in cooperation with FCPS Safe and Drug-Free Youth Section. This year, 190 Fairfax County schools participated, each choosing a winning poster to go on to the county-wide competition.
Also receiving top honors at Stratford was sixth grader Grace Albritton, whose bookmark design was judged the best at the school in the 4th-6th grade category.
Both Albritton and Woods were honored at a March 3 reception and presented certificates of achievement.