'Speak Up, Save a Life' student video contest open

The State’s Attorney’s Office’s Second “Speak Up, Save a Life” Student Video PSA Contest is open and accepting entries. The short videos must focus on the dangers of using drugs, opioids and fentanyl. The top prize in the contest will be $1,000. Entries must be submitted by Friday, Nov. 8.

The contest is open to any high school or middle school student living in Montgomery County. Producers of the second-place video will win $750. The third place and fan favorite video producers will win $500. Montgomery County Public Schools students can earn 10 Student Service Learning hours by participating.

The contest is part of the State’s Attorney’s Office’s “Speak Up, Save a Life” program, whose goal is to spread awareness about the dangers of drug use.

“We were overwhelmed by the number of students who submitted entries in our inaugural ‘Speak Up, Save a Life Video Contest’ and amazed by the quality of their submissions,” said State’s Attorney John McCarthy. “We are excited to see their creativity at work this year. The PSA contest gets young people talking about the dangers of opioid misuse and fentanyl. When students view the finalists’ videos to vote on a fan favorite, it repeatedly reinforces the messages that we want to spread in the community. It’s a powerful compliment to what we are trying to do; save lives and keep our kids safe.”

More information about the contest, including the guidelines and how to enter, can be found at https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/SAO/other/speakup.html

Montgomery County Public Schools and the Montgomery County Council of PTAs  are partnering with the State’s Attorney’s Office on the contest.

The contest’s prize sponsor is Magnolia Companies, in honor of Matthew Loudon and Michael Pisarra, two young Montgomery County residents whose lives were lost to fentanyl.