On April 15, students who participated in the Blanco County National Child Abuse Prevention Poster and Essay Contest received the news that their essay or poster won an award.

Cash prizes, totaling $350, were awarded to the winners during special recognition times and pizza parties. Eight students in Blanco and seven students in Johnson City won awards.

In the entries, children described how abuse often goes unnoticed, but once it’s apparent, there are many ways to help a friend going through hard times.

“A true friend would not back down just because of the size of the problem,” one winning essay proclaimed.

The essays and posters called attention to the often hidden problem of child abuse in our community with one essay saying “just pretending it doesn’t exist doesn’t make it go away, it makes it worse.”

“I’ve been adopted for seven years and I am glad that I now have a real family. Parents should never hurt their children, in or out,” said the author in another heart-felt winning essay.

Out of 80-90 essay and poster entries, the fifteen winners were:

K-2/Posters: Aubry Ockman, 1st Place - 1st grade/LBJ; Addison Stueler, 2nd Place - 2nd grade/LBJ

Grades 3-4/Essays: Kailey Ockman, 1st Place - 4th grade/LBJ; Mark Kuebel, 2nd Place - 4th grade/Blanco

Grades 5-6/Essays: Megan Lowery, 1st Place - 5th grade/LBJ; Mariah Ackerson, 2nd Place - 6th grade/Blanco; Brittney Kauffman, 3rd Place - 5th grade/LBJ

Grades 7-8/Essays: Danielle Oliver, 1st Place - 7th grade/Blanco; Callie Nance, 2nd Place - 7th grade/Blanco; Audreanna Johnson, 3rd Place - 8th grade/Blanco

Grades 9-12/Essays: Tanner Reddont, 1st Place - 11th grade/Blanco; Rachel York, 2nd Place - 10th grade/Blanco; Allissa Abdelwahed, 3rd Place - 10th grade/Blanco

Advisory Classes: Jana Schmidt’s 10th grade class/LBJ; Carol Schmidt’s 11th grade class/LBJ

BCCP&FAB Chairman, Bill Swiss, congratulates all the winners of the contest, and thanks all the teachers, students, and members of the community involved in the contest.

“I want to recognize Wendy Smith and the teachers for the work they put into the contest,” Swiss said. “Wendy, a member of our board, did an especially outstanding job in conceiving and organizing this contest. We hope this contest will bring attention to some of the problems that exist for today’s children and the ways that we can all help to resolve some of these nightmares.”

Join the Blanco County Child Protection and Family Advocacy Board as they encourage others to support our Blanco County children and families. Right now, more people than ever before are stretched to their limits and beyond. It is time to help one another and provide support to have as safe and productive life as possible.

April 8 was “GO BLUE” Day in Texas and county child protective/child welfare boards across the state asked everyone to wear blue that day to show support for child abuse prevention.

The color blue was chosen to represent the bruised and battered bodies of the thousands of children who are abused every day. It serves as a constant reminder that all of us have a responsibility to help keep each child safe. Over 70,000 children were confirmed abuse victims in 2007 in Texas. Of those 70,000, over 223 children actually died from their abuse and neglect in 2007.

Together, we will make Blanco County a safer, healthier, happier place for all our children. You can join the Blanco County Child Protection & Family Advocacy Board in honoring all of our children and in promoting the prevention of child abuse and neglect.

A children’s art contest, sponsored by the BCCP&FAB will be announced soon.