The Fayetteville Lions Club announced the winners of this year’s Drug Awareness Essay Contest where local students shared their thoughts on the theme, “Alive in 2025: Why I Choose Life Instead of Drugs.”

With 111 entries from Fayetteville and Lincoln County schools, the students explored the challenging issue and serious consequences of drug abuse, its impact on students, and potential solutions. Participants were required to write an essay with a minimum of 500 words.

Lions Club members congratulate the winners from each school.

In the Senior Division (9th through 12th grade) the winners were: Alexis Roland of Fayetteville High School, Kori Walden of Lincoln County High School and Kyndall Huffman from Riverside Christian Academy.

In the Junior Division (6th through 8th grade) the winners were: Caterina McMullin of Blanche School; Kamahra Walker of Fayetteville Middle School; Sofia Pineda from Flintville School, Gavin Timothy Burnett of Riverside Christian Academy; and Armundo Thompson of South Lincoln School.

Each school winner received a $100 check for their outstanding essays! The overall winners, Kori Walden in the Senior Division and Sofia Pineda in the Junior Division, each received an additional $300 check.

Long time Lions Contest Chair Jim Neale expressed a huge “thank you” to all the teachers, school principals, counselors, and everyone who helped support the students and made this contest a success.