Archbishop's web site Denver Catholic Register Parishes Catholic Pastoral Center
April 24, 2002
Catholic students' poem on drinking and driving shares prize
Holy Family , Arvada high schools share prize
By Frank Evans
Across Colorado and in most of America's high schools, upperclassmen are already preparing for the biggest social event of their high school career: prom.
For all seniors, juniors and a few underclassmen, prom will be a night to remember. For many, prom night is just around the corner.
The Amica Insurance Company, realizing the challenges that face young people on prom night, has sponsored a poetry contest for all greater Denver high schools that warns about drinking and driving. For the second year in a row, Holy Family High School received an award of $1,000. Sharing in this year's Amica top prize was Arvada High School. They too earned $1,000.
Four of the 58 schools that entered the contest received a cash prize. Holy Family plans to use its money on the after-prom party to be held in the school gymnasium, Saturday, April 27.
The Holy Family authors of this year's poem are Laureen Feijoo, Sarah Smith, Laura Larkins and Noelle Silva.
English teacher Anna Lull had her AP English class enter the competition.
"The class was divided into groups and each group wrote a poem," she said. "The poems were then read aloud and the class voted on its favorite."
In the award-winning poem a girl waits for her prom date, who doesn't arrive because he was killed by teens driving drunk.
"Our poem was very important because drinking and driving is so prevalent in many high schools," co-author Larkins said. "If we can raise awareness then, hopefully, the problem will diminish."
Prom should be an evening of fun and laughter, the students said, not one of heartache and tears.
"This choice often ends in tragedy, and like the ending to our poem, tears and sadness overcome a night of joy when teenagers choose to include alcohol in their prom experience," said co-author Silva.
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