Two local entities were awarded funding through the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board for programs to reduce underage and dangerous alcohol consumption.
The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will receive an $18,902 grant, while Alcohol & Drug Abuse Services will receive $20,000, the Liquor Control Board announced.
At Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services, the funding will be used for a scholarship video contest for students to share messages about underage drinking or drinking or driving.
Sheri Larson, Alcohol and Drug Abuse Services prevention program manager, shared information on the new program.
ADAS will offer allow each junior and senior the 10 school districts in its service area — Cameron, Elk and McKean counties — the chance to apply for a $1,000 scholarship in each school district.
“We wanted to utilize the students’ skills and creativity to reach their peers,” said Larson. “The scholarship is an incentive to participate. What better way to raise awareness of issues related to underage drinking and driving than having students themselves express their concerns.”
Applicants can work alone or in groups to create a three to five minute video. Students who collaborate must submit a joint application. Each video that supports the message of ADAS and the Liquor Control Board will be posted to the ADAS Facebook page.
According to Larson, videos will be judged on five factors: ability to convey the message, quality, creativity, factual information and meeting the time requirement.
“Bonus points will be given for shares and likes on various social medias,” she noted.
Students in grades 11 and 12 who plan to further their education after high school will be eligible to apply.
“ADAS has never attempted to run a video-driven scholarship before,” Larson added. “We are utilizing an intern, funded under Workforce Solutions, to assist us in developing a way to create and judge the videos that relate to the students.”
She hopes the project will encourage positive lifestyle choices for the teens.
“ADAS knows how important it is for youth to have healthy alternatives,” Larson said. “Supporting them in completing their education while promoting how dangerous underage drinking, and drinking and driving, is a win-win for ADAS.”
The video contest is just one of the agency’s education outreach efforts.
Larson explained, “We are currently contacting schools to request their participation in not only the grant awards but also to take part in their scholarship award program and school presentations. ADAS will also hold a community open house in each county.”
Meanwhile, the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford will use the grant money for a program where “peer educators and grad student supervisors create and analyze alternative alcohol-free activities,” the Liquor Control Board stated.
Altogether, the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board awarded $764,925 to 44 entities through the 2019-20 Alcohol Education Grant Program. Recipients will include schools, community organizations, municipalities, law enforcement organizations, nonprofit organizations and institutions of higher education.
The grant funding will be used for projects including “enforcement patrols and tactics, educational efforts, awareness campaigns and alternative, alcohol-free activities, all aimed to reduce underage and dangerous drinking,” the agency stated in a press release.
The one-year grants have a maximum amount of $20,000 each.
“Since 1999, the PLCB has awarded almost $15 million in alcohol education project grants to schools and universities, non-profits, law enforcement, and organizations all across the commonwealth. Funding these projects is making a difference in our communities,” said Tim Holden, Liquor Control Board chairman. “We are pleased and proud to fund projects that seek to prevent underage and irresponsible drinking.”
Additionally, the Liquor Control Board awarded 20 mini-grants of up to $500 each to help representatives of Pennsylvania college communities to attend the International Town & Gown Association’s City and University Relations Conference in May in State College.
