Community and school officials joined students from several community schools and members of the Rushmore Optimist Club in the kickoff event for the annual Red Ribbon Week. The event was held in the concourse of the Summit Arena. The event was moved this year due to the renovations at Dinosaur Park.
Mayor Steve Allender shared comments on the importance of keeping the community’s youth away from drugs and offered a mayoral proclamation declaring Red Ribbon Week in Rapid City.
Schools presented large ribbons signed by students committed to staying free of drugs. The ribbons were combined to form a larger ribbon that was then displayed next to The Monument sign outside the Arena. The Rapid City Central Junior ROTC program also provided a fun-tossing display.
Students from the following schools participated (in order of presentation): South Park Elementary, Southwest Middle, East Middle, North Middle, West Middle, Central High, Knollwood Elementary, Robbinsdale Elementary, Wilson Elementary, Black Hawk Elementary, Valley View Elementary, South Canyon Elementary, Corral Elementary, St. Thomas More Middle and South Middle.
Winning students in the annual art contest were recognized and the winning entries will be presented in large and small community billboards.