DOH announces statewide Red Ribbon Week Door Decorating Contest for schools

The Alaska Department of Health, in collaboration with Governor Mike Dunleavy, is excited to announce the launch of the Red Ribbon Week Door Decorating Contest for schools across Alaska.

This contest, which closes October 23, 2024, is part of the nation’s longest-running drug prevention campaign, Red Ribbon Week, which occurs annually each October.

The theme this year is, "Life is A Movie, Film Drug Free", and was created by Cheryl Holsapfel, a Digital Art Teacher, and Devansh Aggarwal, a seventh grader from Solon Middle School in Ohio.

Much like playing a positive role in a movie, this year’s theme encourages students to decorate their classroom doors using movie-related imagery while highlighting the importance of living a drug-free lifestyle. Teachers and students are invited to get creative, using movie characters, posters, or original artwork to convey the message that living drug-free leads to a brighter future.

“I encourage Alaskans to remain focused on reducing the number of deaths of our young people by overdose and suicide. Participating in Red Ribbon Week activities can promote healthy lifestyles and empower parents to start conversations on these topics that can be hard to navigate,” stated Governor Dunleavy, expressing his support for the initiative.

Resources for educators, including age-appropriate lesson plans, can be found www.health.alaska.gov/dph/pages/redribbonweek

“Our goals are to spark creative and engaging conversations for teachers, inspire Alaska’s students to make positive choices, and provide an opportunity for parents and families to talk about the dangers of drug and alcohol use in a positive way”, said Department of Health Commissioner Heidi Hedberg. “This contest gives educators, students, and the trusted adults who care for them, the opportunity to come together to creatively show their commitment to being drug-free, prevent first-time substance use, and avoid future misuse among Alaska’s youth.”

Prizes include an Amazon gift card for the winning door design in each age group, and other special prizes, a special visit or video from Governor Dunleavy or Commissioner Hedberg, and featured doors on Alaska Department of Health’s social media channels

To enter, collaborate with your students to create a movie-themed door that highlights the importance of living drug-free. The DOH encourages students to incorporate imagery and messages that inspire students to make healthy choices. Then, submit photos or videos of decorated doors by October 23, 2024, using the DOH’s online submission form.