-- Contributed

During the spring, the Weirton-Wellsburg Chapter of Credit Unions, which consists of the Eagle Can Employees Federal Credit Union, First Choice America Community Federal Credit Union, Hancock School Employees Federal Credit Union, Strip Steel Community Federal Credit Union and Tin Mill Employees Federal Credit Union, challenged local fifth-graders to make antibullying posters, with winning posters based solely on the poster students created. At the Weirton-Wellsburg Chapter of Credit Unions’ meeting held April 10, the winning students were awarded a certificate and a cash prize. Contest winners, along with credit union and school officials, are, seated, from left, Emma Bittinger, Oak Glen Middle School; Morgan Geibel, Oak Glen Middle School; Sarah Robinson, Oak Glen Middle School; Brynn Artman, St. Joseph the Worker School; Cady Freeland, St. Joseph the Worker School; Emilia Jordan, St. Joseph the Worker School; Tyler Kirkpatrick, St. Paul Catholic School; and Olivia Morris, St. Paul Catholic School; second row, Mali Olivani, St. Paul Catholic School; Hailey Maloney, Weir Middle School; Madison Morris, Weir Middle School; Kendal Ryan, Weir Middle School; Riley Straight, Weir Middle School; Kaylee Virden, Weir Middle School; Kendra Boyd, Brooke Middle School; Sophia Ellis, Brooke Middle School and Aaralyn Slack, Brooke Middle School; and back row, Sen. Ryan Weld, R-Brooke; Scott Winwood, First Choice America FCU; Carole Lammers, St. Joseph the Worker School; Bracken Fish, St. Paul Catholic School; Janet Stagani, president of the Weirton-Wellsburg Chapter of Credit Unions and Tin Mill Employees FCU; Trish McGee, Hancock County Employees FCU; Capt. Rick Stead of the Weirton Police Department; and Jennifer Sissini, Brooke Middle School. The April chapter meeting included remarks from Weld, who applauded the students on their works and the credit unions on their efforts of talking about bullying and trying to prevent it. “This is such a hot topic, and it affects all school children and their parents,” Stagani said. “We are hoping this poster contest raises awareness in the schools and gives teachers and parents the opportunity to talk to the children about the dangers of bullying. We had so many outstanding posters, it was very difficult to pick winners,” she added.