Cobb Alcohol Taskforce and Cobb County School District Prevention Intervention Center are co-sponsoring a contest to showcase student’s creative media talents and to increase the use of effective messaging to prevent underage drinking and promote youth sources of strength.

Students in grades 6 through 12 who represent a school or community group based in Cobb County are eligible to submit student-produced video public service announcements.

PSAs must be 30, 60 or 90 seconds and address 1 of 2 topics: the problem of adults providing alcohol to youth under 21 or how youth can use sources of strength to change attitudes about youth using alcohol.

Contest rules and entry forms can be found at www.cobbat.org. Deadline for submitting entries is March 30.

Video entries will be judged by a panel of media experts on originality, creativity, communication of message and overall appeal. Judges will select first, second and third place winners. There will also be a viewer’s choice award. Cash prizes will be awarded: $300 for first place, $200 for secede place, $100 for third place and $300 for viewer’s choice.  Funding for prizes has been made available through the Cobb County Commission on Children and Youth.

Winning videos will be posted on various websites and air on local broadcast TV channels, Cobb Government TV23 and CobbEd TV24 during April, which is National Alcohol Awareness Month. Contest winners will also be recognized at a public celebration event in April.