Watkins Mill High School student video wins big in “Keeping It Safe” Contest

Students from Watkins Mill High School and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School earned first-place honors in the 2024–25 Keeping it Safe (KIS) Coalition Student Video Contest. Sponsored by Montgomery County Alcohol Beverage Services (ABS) and Montgomery County Police, the contest challenges students to create 30-second PSAs about the dangers of underage drinking.

This year, 59 videos were submitted from 31 schools. The contest is part of a broader effort by the KIS Coalition, formed in 1992 and funded in part by the Police Traffic Division, to prevent underage alcohol use through education and outreach.

Winners were announced at the recent Public Safety Awards ceremony.

Contest Winners

High School

• First Place – Watkins Mill High School student – $1,000
• Second Place – Amr Halabi, John Taylor, Gocke Onal, Noah Seifu (Walter Johnson HS) – $500
• Third Place – Gideon Nohe, Santiago Londono, Shelby Will (Winston Churchill HS) – $350
• Honorable Mention – George Stenko (Winston Churchill HS) – $100

Middle School

• First Place – Yilin Ouyang (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. MS) – $500
• Second Place – Shady Grove Middle School – $300
• Third Place – Aryan Kabir, Yasin Shaaban (Shady Grove MS) – $250
• Honorable Mention – Shady Grove Middle School – $100

Most Popular Video
Shady Grove Middle School earned the Most Popular Video Award, receiving $150 for the entry with the most online likes.

Congratulations to all participants, and to the student at Watkins Mill High School for their win!