The Fall River Elks Lodge #118 Drug Awareness Program (DAP), in partnership with the National Elks Drug Awareness Program, invites students in grades 3–12 to participate in the 2026–2027 Drug Awareness Contests.

Students are encouraged to use their creativity to promote healthy lifestyles and raise awareness about the importance of remaining drug-free.

Three contests are available based on grade level: Poster, Essay, and Video. Winning entries may advance to state and national competitions.

All entries must be submitted by Friday, December 18, 2026.

Contest Categories

Poster Contest | Grades 3–5

Students in grades 3, 4, and 5 are invited to create an original poster illustrating this year's theme, “A Healthy Me Is Drug Free.”

- Posters should ideally be created on 8½" × 11" paper.

- Entries will be judged on relevance to the theme, neatness, originality, and proper grammar.

- Copyrighted characters or materials are prohibited.

Each poster must include the student's full name, school, location, grade, and sponsoring Lodge (Fall River Elks #118) on the back.

Essay Contest | Grades 6–8

Students in grades 6, 7, and 8 are invited to submit an original essay exploring what it means to live a healthy, drug-free life.

- Essays must be 250 words or fewer.

- Essays may be typed or handwritten on 8½" × 11" paper.

- Students must write their own essays, although teachers, parents, and friends may assist with ideas.

- Entries will be judged on relevance to the theme, neatness, originality, and proper grammar.

Video Contest | Pre-High School & High School

Students may work individually or in groups to create an original video promoting this year's drug awareness theme.

- Videos must be 2–5 minutes long.

- Entries may be submitted on a flash drive or similar readable media.

- Videos must be age-appropriate and contain a positive, drug-free message.

- Entries will be judged on originality, relevance to the theme, age-appropriate content, positive messaging, and video quality.

Additional parental release forms are required for minors participating in video submissions.

Applications & Contest Rules

Students, parents, and educators are encouraged to review the complete contest rules before submitting an entry.

DOWNLOAD THE 2026–2027 CONTEST APPLICATION & RULES (PDF)

The application packet includes contest requirements, an entry form, and additional release forms for video submissions.

All entries must include the required student and school information and any applicable consent or release forms.

Submission Information

Deadline: Friday, December 18, 2026

Completed entries may be mailed or delivered to:

Nancy Carpenter  

Drug Awareness Program Chairperson  

Fall River Elks Lodge #118  

4500 North Main Street  

Fall River, MA 02720

Entries may also be emailed to DAP@fallriverelks.org with “DAP Contest” in the subject line.

Application

Click the link below to download the 2026-2027 Drug Awareness Program Contest application:

Questions?

For additional information about the contests, eligibility, or submission requirements, please contact Nancy Carpenter, Drug Awareness Program Chairperson, at DAP@fallriverelks.org.

We look forward to seeing the creativity and positive messages of our local students!