Schools and Education Southeast Student Wins National Award for Anti-Underage Drinking Video

BRADENTON -- Southeast High sophomore Christian Alvarez has been named the grand prize winner in the Power of You(th) video contest. The national competition asked teens to create a video to help promote awareness of the dangers of underage drinking, which claims the lives of 6,000 young Americans each year. Mothers Against Drunk Driving teamed up with State Farm Insurance to promote a unique contest.

Alvarez's video (see below) features him performing a rap song demonstrating many of the inherent dangers of teen alcohol abuse, as well as the consequences for purchasing alcohol - for minors as well as soliciting adults. It includes cameos by MCSO deputies seen counseling youth outside a liquor mart. Alvarez will be honored at a ceremony at Southeast High today, where he will be presented his award by MADD National President Jan Withers.

As part of his award, Christian will receive an iPad 2, a spot in MADD’s National Teen Influencer Group, and an all-expenses-paid trip to MADD’s National Office in Dallas for a National Teen Influencer Summit in late June 2012. He will also receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. where the group will recognize him during MADD’s National Conference, this September.

Alvarez was not alone. Another Manatee County Schools student, Lakewood Ranch High student Nikelle Kelly, was named one of the four additional Power of You(th) video contest winners. Kelley's song (click here to view) was a soulful R&B effort titled "Make a Change", and focused largely on a teen's responsibility to look out for friends who encounter the pitfalls of underage drinking.