Click image to view high res version, then right click to download – $1,500 scholarship winners Raylee Metcalf, Garrett Smith
JEFFERSON CITY, MO – Six Missouri 2018 high school seniors have been selected to receive college scholarships through the 22nd annual Project 21 Scholarship competition sponsored by the Missouri Gaming Association, the statewide professional association of the Missouri casino industry.
The Missouri Gaming Association awards two $1,500 scholarships and four $1,000 scholarships, which are jointly issued to the winners and the accredited institutions of higher education they select.
The Project 21 Scholarship was developed to educate young people about the issues and dangers of underage gambling. The competition is open to all Missouri high school seniors planning to attend an institution of higher education in the United States within four years of graduation.
In Missouri, it’s illegal for persons under the age of 21 to gamble in a casino. The students were asked to create an essay/article, poster or video aimed at educating their peers about the illegality and dangers of underage gambling. The entries were published or viewed in the students’ high schools in February or March, to help educate other students.
“We know that young people are influenced by their peers, so Project 21 encourages them to learn about the issues of underage gambling and share that information with their classmates,” said Mike Winter, executive director of the Missouri Gaming Association.
Statewide, the 2018 Project 21 winners are:
$1,500 Scholarship Winners
Raylee Metcalf of Sturdivant, MO
Advance High School
College Attending – East Central College
Article – Bet You Didn’t Know
Garrett Smith of Sikeston, MO
Sikeston Public High School
College Attending – Harding University
Article – Underage Gambling: A Losing Hand
$1,000 Scholarship Winners
Anna Gill of Perry, MO
Mark Twain High School
College Attending – Lindenwood University
Article – Paying The Consequences
Madison R. Watson of Ballwin, MO
Cor Jesu Academy
College Attending – The University of Kansas
Poster – Underage Gambling: A Curable Disease Being Treated With Silence
Sophia Masi of Kirkwood, MO
Kirkwood High School
College Attending -The University of Kansas
Article – How To Play Your Cards Right
Alexandra Gorman of Kansas City, MO
Park Hill High School
College Attending – Missouri State University
Poster – Not 21 Yet, No Bet!
ABOUT MISSOURI GAMING ASSOCIATION
The Missouri Gaming Association (MGA) is the statewide trade association of the Missouri casino entertainment industry. Founded in 1993, the Missouri Gaming Association works to promote responsible gaming and increase awareness of the economic benefits of casinos in Missouri. The MGA and its casino company members sponsor year-round responsible gaming programs including the 1-888-BETSOFF crisis line and referral service, Project 21 scholarship competition, and Responsible Gaming Awareness Week. For more information, visit www.missouricasinos.org.
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