11/19/2025
Media Release
Paint Valley Alcohol Drug Addiction and Mental Health (ADAMH) Board Announces 2025 Write in Red Scholarship Contest Winners
Chillicothe, OH – The Paint Valley ADAMH Board held the 12th annual Write in Red Essay Contest during Red Ribbon Week October 27-31, 2025. The essay contest was for all middle and high school students in Fayette, Highland, Pickaway, Pike, and Ross counties. Students are provided with a red pen and asked to write an essay about ways to prevent drug, alcohol, and to***co abuse. There were 12 school districts in the Paint Valley ADAMH catchment area that participated in this year’s essay contest. One winner was selected from each county and each awarded a $500 scholarship. Scholarships can be used by the student toward any accredited college or university.
The 2025 scholarship winners are:
• Alivia Dawson, Washington Court House High School – Fayette County
• Cathleen Smart, Hillsboro High School – Highland County
• Emmalise Reed, Westfall Middle School – Pickaway County
• Karleigh Bringner, Eastern Middle School – Pike County
• Kristen Maxwell, Paint Valley High School – Ross County
“The essays that we received this year were both heartfelt and well written,” said Paint Valley ADAMH Board Executive Director Melanie Swisher. “The students were able to convey great strategies for developing healthy lives. It is encouraging to read positive essays from students communicating their passion to live a drug-free lifestyle. The resilience that was conveyed in the essays was inspiring.”
Scholarship winners also received $100 for winning their school’s essay contest as did the following Write in Red Essay Contest school winners:
· Jillian Harvey, Fairfield High School · Daphne Zink, Fairfield Middle School · Jillian Arthurs, Greenfield High School · Raylen Keeton, Greenfield Middle School · Addison Mootz, Hillsboro Middle School · Mahalia Baker, Lynchburg-Clay High School · Ally Carraher, Lynchburg-Clay Middle School · Jenna Canada, White Oak High School · Alyssa Fultz, White Oak Middle School · Kylie Fleming, Westfall High School · Emari Snyder, Eastern High School · Natalynn McQueen, Piketon High School · Hunter Richmond, Piketon Middle School · Emma Watkins, Waverly High School · Rachel Lute, Huntington High School
Paint Valley ADAMH Board is a political subdivision of state government, created in 1967 by the Ohio Legislature to ensure the availability of community-based addiction and mental health services for the residents of Fayette, Highland, Pickaway, Pike, and Ross Counties.
For questions, information, or follow up, please contact:
Paint Valley ADAMH contactus@pvadamh.org
740-773-2283
