Politics & Government

Troy Craughwell Student Wins Top Prize in Anti-Smoking Poster Contest

Fourth-grader Karina Ritter captured first place in the Will County Health Department's Tar Wars Poster Contest.

Karina Ritter, a fourth-grade student from Troy Craughwell, won the 2011 Will County Tar Wars Poster Contest.

An annual event hosted by the Will County Health Department, the Tar Wars Poster Contest helps children to recognize the importance of not using tobacco. The 2011 Tar Wars winner was judged to be most outstanding from among more than 70 posters submitted for consideration.

Ritter received a $75 Wal-Mart Gift Card for submitting the winning poster. The top eight Will County poster submissions advance to the Illinois State Tar Wars Poster Contest in early May. The Illinois state winner advances to the national contest finals during July, in Washington D.C.

Find out what's happening in Shorewoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Tar Wars is a free tobacco prevention program developed by the American Academy of Family Physicians, and introduced to Will County schools in 2007. Will County Tobacco Control & Prevention has presented the program to more than 8,000 area grade schoolers.

This year, Will County has teamed up with Lewis University College of Nursing to reach more Will County schools. Presentations emphasize the short-term, image-based consequences of tobacco use, costs associated with using tobacco products, and the advertising techniques used by tobacco companies to market harmful products to youth. After students participate in a Tar Wars presentation, they are eligible to create a poster and submit for the poster contest.

Find out what's happening in Shorewoodwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Will County Executive Larry Walsh and 52 Health Department employees and volunteers served as Tar Wars judges. Posters were judged on creativity, originality, artistic ability, and the creation of a clear and positive tobacco-free message. Students recognized for runner-up and honorable mention poster submissions received prizes and certificates of participation.

For more information about Tar Wars, visit www.tarwars.org, or telephone Will County Tobacco Control & Prevention at 815-774-7312.


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here