Submitted Photo Gleven Pascual took first place in the Healthy Decision-Making art contest and received $1,000 in STEAM supplies for Erik Ramstad Middle School.

Gleven Pascual, a student at Erik Ramstad Middle School, Minot, won first place in the first Healthy Decision-Making art contest, according to Strengthening the Heartland, a program created to invest in the wellness and prosperity of rural communities.

The contest challenged youth to create a visual representation of how to make healthy decisions in daily life. The selected winners were awarded science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics (STEAM) supplies for their schools. First prize was $1,000 in STEAM supplies.

Students across North Dakota and South Dakota submitted illustrations, drawings and paintings. Judges recognized a first, second and third place award in each state based on craftsmanship, originality and interpretation of the topic. Strengthening the Heartland created posters featuring the first-place winners and bookmarks featuring the second and third place winners. The program will distribute the posters and bookmarks to schools across both states.

Other winners from North Dakota are: second place, Blake Hasse, Sargent Central Public School, Forman, awarded $500 of STEAM supplies; and third place, Abree Diaz Gonzalez, Hebron Public School, Hebron, awarded $250 of STEAM supplies.

Strengthening the Heartland developed through the collaborative efforts of faculty from North Dakota State University Extension and South Dakota State University Extension. The program is funded by grants from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.