Family Resources Button Contest winners

The 23rd Annual Family Resources of Rutherford County Prevent Child Abuse Button Ceremony was held April 15 at Crestview Baptist Church in Forest City. The purpose of the event is to promote awareness and prevention of child abuse. The event is held annually in April, which is Prevent Child Abuse Awareness Month.

There were more than 900 entries from students across Rutherford County this year. Winners for the contest, who were fourth and fifth grade students, were chosen blindly by Family Resources of Rutherford County staff and the Child Abuse Response Team.

Guest speaker for the event was the Hon. Laura A. Powell, District Court Judge in Rutherford County. Powell told the student winners they were leaders in their schools and the future leaders in the community. "It is our responsibility to take care of each other," she said.

The theme for this year's contest was "You Can Count on Me." The top three finalists for 2016 were Alayah Moore, first place, Ellenboro Elementary; Conner Croussore, second place, Rutherfordton Elementary; and Sydney Grace Evans, third place, Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy.

Other 2016 winners, by school, were:

Cliffside Elementary - Ryan Bennett, Kaylee Hunt, Jose Moreno, Cassandra Pittman, Devin Shelton

Ellenboro Elementary - Jordan Dixon, Marissa Greene, Dawson Hardin, Benjamin Jordan, Lisa Price, Mary Grace Tisdale, Jada Walker, Abbi White

Forest City-Dunbar Elementary - Alfredo Aleman, Mackenzie Hernandez, Noelle Mazziotta, Alicia Ratliff, Cindy Rubio

Forrest W. Hunt Elementary - Sarah Duncan, Yurixi Elias, Skyland Hoyle, Iyana Lineberger, Hayden Wheeler

Harris Elementary - Nathan Flynn, Lynsey Hettrick, Bonnie Jackson, Kinsley King, Isabella Wolf

Mount Vernon-Ruth Elementary - Madison Bass, Sara Brooks, Carley Chapman, Audrey Scruggs, Alexis Terry

Pinnacle Elementary - Rhianna Head, Sarah Kent, Chaslyn Wheeler, Devyn Wicks

Rutherfordton Elementary - Kimmeria Bowers, Levi Burnett, Riley Johnson, Abigtail Lewis, Lucas Martinez, Nicole Mercer, Mykierra Surratt, Vivien Tesseneer

Spindale Elementary - Grant Adkins, Luke Archer, Saylor Bree Craig, Jeffrey Dunn II, Jesilyn Rippy

Sunshine Elementary - Samantha Booth, Willa Gettys, Jesse Lavender, Halle McFarland, Emily Wright

Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy - Eleni Fiore, Lucy Logan, Madison McComas, Anjali Patel, Sammie Roos

Trinity Christian School - Maddie Howell, Karyna Kimeck, Morgyn McDaniel, Lydia Parton, Alena Tuong