RiverValley gives away over $6K in Mental Health Art Contest

This article is from Owensboro Times. See the original post here.

River Valley Behavioral Health held its second annual Youth Mental Health Art Contest on Wednesday and was able to give away $6,100 to community members and organizations.

In May during Mental Health Awareness Month, RVBH invited K-12 students to submit a visual art project to express the importance of mental health along with the theme “Be Kind to Your Mind.”

They received a total of 245 entries from students across their seven-county service area.

“We are grateful for the schools and youth organizations that provide support and encouragement to these students. Thank you for helping us spread a message of hope and remember to ‘Be Kind to Your Mind,’” RVBH President & CEO Dr. Wanda Figueroa-Peralta said.

The organization gave prize money ranging from $100 to $1,000 to participants for contributing art and partners in the community.

Community partner John Paul II Catholic School in Morganfield was awarded the Mental Health Partner of the Year award for having the most entries in the art contest with 41.

RVBH also presented Becca McQueen-Roark, Vice President of Student Affairs at Kentucky Wesleyan College, the inaugural Dianne McFarling Memorial Award.

“This award celebrates KWC’s staff and administrators’ dedication to promoting mental health on its campus, combatting mental health stigma, and increasing suicide prevention efforts,” said Brooke Arnold, Director of the Regional Prevention Center.

Both award winners received $1,000 and a plaque.

RVBH also gave $500 and a matched donation to the schools of the winners over all the divisions.

Owensboro iMiddle School’s Mercy Tanner won Division I Youth Art Contest Project of the Year and received $500.

Logan Jefers and Briana Stallings also won $500 for themselves and Ohio County High School and Kentucky Wesleyan College in Divisions II and III, respectively.

The winners amongst the individual grade divisions are as follows:

Division I (Kindergarten – 6th Grade) Winners:

  • Sebastian Bradshaw, Kindergarten-Grade Level Winner – Newton Parrish Elementary School
  • Molly Hayden, 1st Grade Level Winner – Calhoun Elementary School
  • Adele Doyal, 2nd Grade Level Winner – Sutton Elementary School
  • Ameera Ramin, 3rd Grade Level Winner – Dixon Elementary School
  • Eliza Johns, 4th Grade Level Winner – Sturgis Elementary School
  • Larken Roach, 5th Grade Level Winner – Audubon Elementary School

Division II (7th – 12th Grade) Winners:

  • Mallory Hendrickson, 7th Grade Level Winner – John Paul II Catholic
  • Allyson Miller, 8th Grade Level Winner – South Middle School
  • Jodi Mitchell, 9th Grade Level Winner – McLean County High School
  • McKenna Russin, 10th Grade Level Winner – Henderson County High School
  • Madison Devine, 11th Grade Level Winner – Hancock County High School

All the above won $100 for winning in their division.

Published on July 2, 2022