Sedona, ?AZ — Yavapai County, AZ – MATFORCE, a primary prevention organization that focuses on stopping youth substance use before it starts, is pleased to reveal the 2026 winners for its yearly #StayHealthy Essay and Youth Poster Contests. Both competitions saw participation from students across Yavapai County.
Winners of the #StayHealthy Essay Contest
Launched in 2019, the annual #StayHealthy Essay Contest invites young people to explore the impacts of substance abuse and express their thoughts with their peers and the community. Cash prizes were awarded to the top three finishers, ranging from $500 for first place to $100 for third. Additionally, students receiving honorable mentions were each given $50.
1st – 3rd Place Winners
1st Place: Ariana Herrera, age 15, Camp Verde High School, Camp Verde
2nd Place: Brayden Walsworth, age 18, Camp Verde High School, Camp Verde
3rd Place (tie): Jacob, age 16, Prescott Lakes Parkway School, Prescott
3rd Place (tie): Sincere Logan, age 17, The Academy at Mingus, Cottonwood
Honorable Mentions
Aixa Herrera, grade 11, Mingus Union High School, Cottonwood
Alicia Chavez Molina, Mingus Union High School, Cottonwood
Antoine Pinn, age 15, Mingus Union High School, Cottonwood
Brianna Lara Perez, age 16, Mingus Union High School, Cottonwood
Fiona Jackson, age 16, Mingus Union High School, Cottonwood
Hadley Hackworth, age 15, Camp Verde High School, Camp Verde
Hailey Landsberg, age 14, Mingus Union High School, Cottonwood
Jaydn Prestis, age 16, Camp Verde High School, Camp Verde
Laura Cowgill, age 15, Mingus Union High School, Cottonwood
Mary Jane Wright, grade 12, Prescott Lakes Parkway School, Prescott
Naomy Valdez-Martinez, age 17, American Heritage Academy, Cottonwood
Paige Tormollan, age 16, Bradshaw Mountain High School, Prescott Valley
Ruby Badger, age 17, Mingus Union High School, Cottonwood
Sienna Amodeo, age 18, Mingus Union High School, Cottonwood
Winners of the 2026 Youth Poster Contest
MATFORCE is happy to announce the results of the 2026 Youth Poster Contest which was held in collaboration with the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office (YCSO). This annual competition is promoted countywide with the support of YCSO and aims to promote youth awareness about the dangers associated with alcohol and drug misuse. Two grand prize recipients were awarded $500.00 cash prizes, while winners in each age category received $50.00 Amazon gift cards.
Grand Prize Recipients
K-6th Grade: Alexa Garcia, grade 6, Acorn Montessori School, Prescott Valley
7th-12th Grade: Savana Bekiou, age 17, Prescott High School, Prescott
Winners by Age Category
Age 5/6: Maddie, age 6, Homeschool
Age 7/8: Minelly Manon, age 8, Mountain View Elementary School, Prescott Valley
Age 9/10: Rendon Eutsler, age 10, Ashfork Elementary School, Ashfork
Age 11/12: Anberlyn Gamble, age 11, Granite Mountain Upper Elementary School, Prescott
Age 13/14: Molly Gossard, age 13, Bradshaw Mountain Middle School, Dewey
Age 15/16: Samantha King, age 15, Franklin Phonetic School, Prescott Valley
Age 17/18: Ashlyn Luedeman, age 18, Prescott High School, Prescott
