Teens Across Montana Win Over $300,000 in Cash in the Montana Meth Project’s Paint the State Contest

The Montana Meth Project today awarded over $300,000 to scores of talented teens who entered this summer’s Paint the State contest, including the $13,000 grand prize to Alexa Audet, a 16 year old from Broadwater County. "A most remarkable display of public art" is how one traveler described the entries that stretched across the state in what is likely the largest public art contest in history. The 660 works of art are a spectacular representation of the creative thinking and talent of teens and thousands of their family and friends in all 56 counties in Montana.

Launched in May, the contest called on teens to take action in the fight against Meth abuse by creating highly visible public art that illustrates the dangers of methamphetamine, the state’s leading drug problem. The entrants pushed the limits of creativity in public display by placing their art on buses, hay bales, garbage cans, teepees, and even the sides of cows and sheep.

In a ceremony at the Capitol Rotunda in Helena, renowned Montana artist Russell Chatham chose the grand prize winner out of 56 first place county winners. "The quality and diversity of the artwork was extraordinary. Montana’s teens so skillfully portrayed the many aspects of the Meth epidemic. It was a difficult decision to make."

Chatham awarded the Paint the State contest grand prize to Alexa Audet, a junior at Broadwater High School. Her mural, painted on the Townsend City Pool building in Broadwater County, was singled out from among the 660 entries for its methamphetamine prevention message and artistic expression.

Audet’s design was influenced in part from a school presentation by Mary Haydal, mother of Cassie Haydal, the Montana teen who died from a methamphetamine overdose in 2000. Says Audet, "Cassie’s story was heartbreaking. I wanted my piece to tell kids ‘Don’t even try it.’ Nothing good can come out of it. It shatters lives."

The location Audet chose for her mural, on the city pool building where she is a summer lifeguard, provided an opportunity to reach a young audience with a strong, positive message. Together with her mother Callie Audet, a high school counselor, the pair worked for 3 weeks to finish the painting. According to Audet, "The colors and images sparked conversations between kids and their parents about the effects of Meth use. The mural represents everything beautiful that can be lost when life is devoted to Meth."

After receiving the $13,000 award, Audet announced that she would put it towards college, where she plans to study graphic design.

In addition to the statewide grand prize, 165 awards were given to the first, second, and third place winners in each of Montana’s counties. Entries were judged by each county’s commissioner who evaluated the submissions on Meth prevention message, artistic merit and creativity, and public visibility.

Yellowstone County first place winner Lindsey Wolfe used a donated car as the canvas for her project. While she painted symbols of the effects of Meth use, several people came by to speak with her. Said 15 year old Wolfe, "One man, a recovered Meth addict, was very emotional. He said if my project could stop even one person from trying Meth, it would be worth it."

The campaign has garnered broader awareness of the Meth problem and demonstrated that communities can take positive action. "This is perhaps the largest public art display in history," said Tom Siebel, chairman of the Montana Meth Project. "Young people across Montana have spoken out loud and clear about their distain for methamphetamine. Thousands of teens and their families throughout the state were actively engaged. This is a great moment in Meth prevention."

"Our generous sponsors — PPL Montana and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana helped make this contest possible. PPL Montana contributed $250,000 and involved its employees statewide in promoting the contest, recruiting teens, and sponsoring project teams. We would also like to thank Blue Cross Blue Shield of Montana for its generous $100,000 contribution and outstanding support," Siebel concluded.

Governor Brian Schweitzer, a strong supporter of the Montana Meth Project from its inception in early 2005, opened the award ceremony by saying, "I commend all of the participants in the campaign against Meth abuse in Montana," said Governor Brian Schweitzer. "Meth has affected our Montana families. This project has demonstrated that real change can happen, community to community."

A photography exhibition featuring the work of the Paint the State artists will be on display in the Capitol Rotunda from August 9 through August 31.

About the Montana Meth Project

The Montana Meth Project is a not-for-profit organization headquartered in Missoula, Montana. The Montana Meth Project implements a range of advertising and community action programs to reduce methamphetamine use among Montana teens. The Meth Project is funded by a grant from the Thomas and Stacey Siebel Foundation. For more information, visit http://www.montanameth.org.

Paint the State Winners by County

Beaverhead County
1st Place Amy Bump, Chelsea Clark,
2nd Place Jacob Cleverly, Age 16
3rd Place Bailey Ferris, Age 16

Big Horn County
1st Place Ben Pease, Age 16
2nd Place Indra McCormick, Age 16
3rd Place Taylor Big Day, Age 14

Blaine County
1st Place Shelby McCann, Age 14
2nd Place Kristi Doney, Age 18
3rd Place Chris Schuldt, Age 14

Broadwater County
1st Place Alexa Audet, Age 16
2nd Place Emily Watson, Age 16
3rd Place Siobhan Flynn, Age 15

Butte-Silver Bow County
1st Place Courtney Cashell, Age 13
2nd Place Richard Oulman-Harper, Age 17
3rd Place Keanne & Kendra Lamberston

Carbon County
1st Place Red Lodge Youth Council
2nd Place Jacob Timmons, Age 14
3rd Place Chance Cady, Age 13

Carter County
1st Place Nathan Carrol, Age 18
2nd Place Clinton Mrnak, Age 15
3rd Place Amanda Kortum, Age 17

Cascade County
1st Place Jenna Beck, Age 16
2nd Place Katy Lunstad, Age 16
3rd Place Mason Crocker, Age 13

Chouteau County
1st Place Trace Claassen, Age 16
2nd Place Chance Claassen, Age 13

Custer County
1st Place Roughriders 4-H
2nd Place Shayla Swenson, Age 18
3rd Place Philip Estepp, Age 17

Daniels County
1st Place Shelby Snare, Age 15
2nd Place Cydney Handran, Age 13
3rd Place Kelsi Plante, Age 17

Dawson County
1st Place Dawson Co. Boys & Girls Club
2nd Place Natasha Carman, Age 15
3rd Place Hannah Huschka, Age 15

Deer Lodge County
1st Place Angela Haffey, Age 18
2nd Place Jasmine Warner, Age 15
3rd Place Mike Billy, Age 15

Fallon County
1st Place Bret Sander, Age 16

Fergus County
1st Place Stacey Ray, Age 17
2nd Place Sarah Rice, Age 13
3rd Place Shani Marciniak, Age 17

Flathead County
1st Place Chloe Thorton, Age 13
2nd Place Kenneth Yarus, Age 16
3rd Place Lauren Discoe, Age 17

Gallatin County
1st Place Emily Allison, Age 18
2nd Place Jeremy Smania, Age 17
3rd Place Nikole Gebhart, Age 15

Garfield County
1st Place Jonathan Fitzgerald, Age 14
2nd Place Sarah Dailey, Age 18
3rd Place Matthew Maetzold, Age 13

Glacier County
1st Place Courtney Sheble, Age 16
2nd Place Samantha Sheble, Age 18
3rd Place Sarah Murray, Age 13

Golden Valley County
1st Place Drue Bruner, Age 14
2nd Place Jesse Burroughs, Age 15
3rd Place Jeremiah Jansen, Age 13

Granite County
1st Place Jessica Tubbs, Age 18
2nd Place Jessie Paske, Age 15
3rd Place Ben Hauptman, Age 17

Hill County
1st Place Jourdon Han, Age 17
2nd Place Miranda Holmlund, Age 14
3rd Place Nathan Hurlburt, Age 16

Jefferson County
1st Place Andrew Giulio, Age 15
2nd Place Amber Reinschmidt, Age 17
3rd Place Kayce Flathers, Age 16

Judith Basin County
1st Place Jordan Uhler, Age 14
2nd Place Roxy Marquardt, Age 13
3rd Place Dabrianna Raprager, Age 17

Lake County
1st Place T.J. Lipko, Age 16
2nd Place Sarah Nelson, Age 18
3rd Place Samantha Dorne, Age 17

Lewis & Clark County
1st Place Neal Livezy, Age 17
2nd Place Rainey Davis, Age 15
3rd Place Kevin Faunt LeRoy, Age 18

Liberty County
1st Place Liberty Explore America
2nd Place Evan Waldron, Age 15
3rd Place Liberty Junior Hawks

Lincoln County
1st Place Trista Berget, Age 17
2nd Place Lacey Shaver, Age 16
3rd Place Dalton Mossey, Age 16

Madison County
1st Place Amber Bettinger, Age 16
2nd Place Adrianna Frankland, Age 15
3rd Place Tyler Grover, Age 13

McCone County
1st Place Sunny Schriver, Age 15
2nd Place Raina Urton, Age 16
3rd Place Cole Hinnaland, Age 15

Meagher County
1st Place Austin Sereday, Age 13
2nd Place Molly Hedrich, Age 13
3rd Place Riley Brewer, Age 16

Mineral County
1st Place Jocelyn Dockter, Brianna Managhan, Rolisha
Rhodes
2nd Place Jasmine Jones, Thomas Spencer
3rd Place Ryanne Burklund, Age 16

Missoula County
1st Place Jennifer Schuberg, Age 18
2nd Place Garden City Church Youth Group
3rd Place Alex Kuennen, Age 17

Musselshell County
1st Place Dane Christensen, Age 18
2nd Place Carol Stahl, Age 18
3rd Place Trinda Blackmore, Age 15

Park County
1st Place Hannah Sukut, Age 16
2nd Place Michael Jacobsen, Age 18
3rd Place Ryan Wulf, Age 18

Petroleum County
1st Place Whit Weingart, Age 13
2nd Place Ashley Kiehl, Age 14
3rd Place Kylie King, Age 17

Phillips County
1st Place Kristen Engebretson, Age 18
2nd Place Josh Davis, Age 18
3rd Place Jaren Stiles, Age 17

Pondera County
1st Place Brooke Holden, Age 16
2nd Place Lauren Montijo, Age 16
3rd Place Mariah Sheble, Age 14

Powder River County
1st Place Emilee Barnhart, Age 17
2nd Place Megan Brunke, Age 16
3rd Place Jed Smith, Age 18

Powell County
1st Place Mount Powell Champs 4-H
2nd Place Meghan Higle, Age 14
3rd Place Stephanie Dobson, Age 14

Prairie County
1st Place Kyla Strasheim, Age 18
2nd Place Jasmine Freiboth, Age 17
3rd Place Chay Larsen, Age 16

Ravalli County
1st Place Coleman Pape, Age 17
2nd Place Mario Carmazzi Farr, Age 16
3rd Place Alaina Kinney, Age 16

Richland County
1st Place Amanda Livers, Age 16
2nd Place Katelyn Koch, Age 17
3rd Place Jonathon Strasheim, Age 17
Jenna Welnel, Age 17

Roosevelt County
1st Place Froid High School Student Council
2nd Place Andrea Damm, Age 15
3rd Place Rheannon Black Dog, Age 17

Rosebud County
1st Place Annie Shaver, Age 18
2nd Place Leah Vannett, Age 15
3rd Place Chalee Daugherty, Age 15

Sander County
1st Place Rianna Trujillo, Age 16
2nd Place Abbie Starkey, Age 14
3rd Place Johnny Wesley, Age 13

Sheridan County
1st Place Caitlin Nyby, Age 14
2nd Place Meg Shoal, Age 14
3rd Place Scott Mangel, Age 17

Stillwater County
1st Place Justin Fleming, Age 16
2nd Place Stephanie Faust, Age 17
3rd Place Justin Lindo, Age 17

Sweet Grass County
1st Place Lawson Maclean, Age 16
2nd Place Paige Leary, Age 17
3rd Place Trista Hathaway, Age 15

Teton County
1st Place Claire Nelson, Age 14
2nd Place Wade Janzen, Age 18
3rd Place Andrew Nichter, Age 17

Toole County
1st Place Shadee Jergens, Age 15
2nd Place Rachel Cross, Age 17
3rd Place Perri Taylor, Age 14

Treasure County
1st Place Heidi Gates, Age 13
2nd Place Faith Keck, Age 13
3rd Place Cathy Banister, Age 16

Valley County
1st Place Caylon Hackwith, Age 18
2nd Place Kara Wesen, Age 17
3rd Place Shelby Stormer, Age 13

Wheatland County
1st Place Jake Tomlinson, Age 17
2nd Place Tate Theriault, Age 17
3rd Place Konnor Scally, Age 15

Wibaux County
1st Place Rachel Barthel, Age 13
2nd Place Andrew Barthel, Age 16
3rd Place Jackie & Krista Bushman

Yellowstone County
1st Place Lindsey Wolfe, Age 15
2nd Place Kyle Trafton, Age 17
3rd Place Will Baker, Age 18

Contact: Jennifer Gamelin of DDB Public Relations, +1-206-344-2496, or [email protected], for Montana Meth Project.