Enter for a chance to win your t-shirt design on shirts for your classroom or homeroom
Any student from Berks County, PA in grades K through 12 is eligible to participate. Cyber-school and home-schooled youth are also eligible to enter. One winner will be chosen in each of these categories: Elementary, Middle School & High School.
Teachers are invited to have their students design a t-shirt for our Red Ribbon Week Contest. Classroom and homeroom teachers are encouraged to make this a classroom competition, and students in the class should select one winning entry (if there is a tie, two entries may be submitted). Multiple entries are allowed per school, but only one per class. One winner in each category (elementary, middle school & high school) will be selected by COCA staff.
Winners will receive a $100 gift card and will have their design printed on a t-shirt that will be given to each student in their classroom or homeroom.
See all guidelines below.
Materials: Students should use the T-shirt template provided. Entries may also be submitted on an 8.5″ x11″ white paper.
Mediums: Students may use a variety of mediums such as watercolor, pen and ink, crayon, chalk, markers, etc. Digitally created artwork is also permitted. Keep in mind that artwork will need to be photographed and submitted electronically and should be clear to read.
PLEASE REMEMBER:
• Entries must include the Release Form (electronic signature is acceptable) and contact information.
• Any artwork containing copyrighted material will be eliminated from the contest.
• All artwork submitted becomes the property of the Council on Chemical Abuse and may be reproduced.
Artwork must depict the theme: “Make a Difference. Be a Hero. Stay Drug Free.™”
This may include images of you or others engaging in engaging in activities that are healthy, drug-free and make a difference in your community.
Examples could include:
T-shirt designs will be judged by a group of drug, alcohol prevention professionals based on the following criteria:
1. Submission has all required information attached and release form.
2. Clear message conveyed by the text and artwork
3. Includes contest theme “Make a Difference. Be a Hero. Stay Drug Free.™”
4. Creativity, originality and artistic quality
5. Visual clarity – easily read
6. Bright and colorful
7. No copyrighted artwork, characters (Superman, Disney characters, etc), or name brands (i.e. Pepsi or McDonalds, etc.).
We encourage teachers to do this as a classroom activity, then have the class select one or two winning entries to submit.
Individual students may also submit entries if desired.
Submissions should be made through our online form. Teachers should take a photo of the artwork and submit as a JPG.
Three winners will be selected, one in each category: Elementary, Middle School & High School.
All winners will receive a $100 Visa Gift Card and every student in their classroom or homeroom will receive a t-shirt with the winning design.
Winning designs will also be displayed on the COCA website and social media platforms.
Deadline for submission: October 12, 2026
October 12 – 16: Judging of designs. Winners will be notified during this time.
October 23 – 31: (Red Ribbon Week). Winners recognized online and through COCA’s website, social media and news outlets. Please note that t-shirts may not be ready during this week, but will be delivered as soon as they are available.
For special Red Ribbon Week programs, contact Alicia
Click here to email Alicia Kline today. You can also call
(610) 376-8669 - EXT. 121
