February 22, 2019
Contact: Emily Murray
Phone Number: (571) 387-3545
For Immediate Release

East Butler public school awarded for student’s Red Ribbon Week Photo Contest entry

DEA Omaha Division staff present $1,000 check to Brainard, Neb., school

Chance Rohda and his family were recognized for Most Ambitious Home in the 2018 Red Ribbon Week Photo Contest.
DEA Omaha Division Diversion Outreach Coordinator Erin Payne, Award Winner Chance Rohda, East Butler Public School Principal Shawn Biltoft and Diversion Program Manager William Stockmann.

OMAHA, Neb., – East Butler Public School in Brainard, Neb., was presented a $1,000 check by Drug Enforcement Administration Omaha Division staff, Feb. 22, after sixth grader Chance Rohda and his family were recognized as one of 20 2018 Red Ribbon Week Photo Contest winners.

To qualify for the eighth annual National Red Ribbon Week Photo Contest, families and schools were invited to decorate the front of their homes or school campuses with a double-looped red ribbon and the words of the 2018 theme, “Life is Your Journey. Travel Drug Free.” Each family or school then submitted a photo of their decorations. The contest, which is co-sponsored by the DEA, was held in conjunction with the 33rd annual National Red Ribbon Week.

A total of $20,000 is being awarded to K-12 schools across the nation, which includes 10 winners who received the most votes in their region and 10 winners who were selected for Judges Awards. Rohda and his family received a Judges Award for Most Ambitious Home and Rohda was presented with an iPad. Rohda was one of two students within the Omaha Division, which includes Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota, to earn national recognition.

“We were really excited to learn that two individuals from states within our Division were awarded top honors,” Acting Special Agent in Charge Darin Thimmesch said. “It’s an honor for us to present these talented students and their families and schools with these awards. Red Ribbon Week is very important to us. It provides us with another avenue to reach out to students, educate them on the risks and dangers of drugs and encourage kids to stay drug free.”

This year’s Red Ribbon Week will be held Oct. 23-31, with the theme, “Send a Message. Stay Drug Free.” Red Ribbon Week is the nation’s largest and oldest drug prevention campaign and reaches over 80 million people each year throughout the United States. Be sure to visit www.redribbon.org for details about the 2019 National Red Ribbon Week Photo Contest.