Submitted photo Taking part in a check presentation at Harman School were, from left, Randolph County Prevention Resource Officers Rocky Hebb and Daniel Pennington, Annabelle Estep, Lindsey Thompson, Wade McDonald, Carlee White, Brenden Lewis, Morgan Raines, Randolph County Prevention Resource Officer Ethan Carr, Maiah Teter, Natalie Josimovich, state Alcohol Beverage Control Administration Commissioner Fred Wooton, West Virginia Motorcycle Safety Program Coordinator Donnie Hale, and Harman High School Principal Martin Kniley. Winning students not pictured: Haylee Ketterman and Trinity Thompson.

HARMAN — The West Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control Administration presented a check for $2,500 to a group of students at Harman High School for their second-place finish in the 11th annual NO School Spirits Public Service Announcement Contest.

During a ceremony at the school Friday, WVABCA Commissioner Fred Wooten handed out Certificates of Recognition from Gov. Jim Justice, along with the winning check. A total of 67 entries from 500 students in West Virginia took part in the contest, which featured submitted videos that address the dangers of underage drinking, and drinking and driving.

“The award ceremony went really well,” Harman High School art teacher Natalie Josimovich told The Inter-Mountain. “Our secondary students gathered in the gym to watch the five winning videos from this year’s NO School Spirits PSA Contest. The families of the students involved in making the video and our PRO officers were also invited to attend. We also created a poster where students were able to sign to pledge that they will never drink and drive.”

Josimovich helped the group of students create the video for the contest. The video portrayed a scene in which students were drinking and driving and crashed into a tree. Randolph County’s Prevention Resource Officers Rocky Hebb, Daniel Pennington, and Ethan Carr also helped the students with the video.

“During the ceremony, I encouraged our students to try for first place next year, but unfortunately I will not be able to lead them because the Randolph County Board of Education has decided to remove the art program from Harman School,” Josimovich said. “Entering this contest and winning this award means a lot to our school, because it supports an important cause and gives recognition to our talented students. Just because we are a small school doesn’t mean we can’t do big things.”

Shady Spring High School in Raleigh County captured first place and was awarded $5,000. Wheeling Central Catholic High School was third ($1,000), and Tolsia High School fourth ($750). Grafton High School rounded out the list of winners in fifth place ($750).

Funding for the contest is made available by State Farm, the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association, and the West Virginia Governor’s Highway Safety Program.

Harman’s second-place video can currently be seen playing during local ads at Elkins Cinema 8.