Congratulations to the 2008 Texas Tar Wars Poster Contest winner, Angelica Morris of Luling, Texas. Morris’ poster, "Take a stand—Reveal your inner strength and stay tobacco free" was selected for the grand prize from many entries by a panel of TAFP members. Her message reinforces the anti-smoking mission supported by Tar Wars and the Academy.

Angelica Morris’ poster, "Take a stand—Reveal your inner strength and stay tobacco free"

The 2009 Texas Tar Wars Poster Contest will take place in May 2009. All poster entries must be postmarked by April 17, 2009.

Send your school’s winning poster to:
Texas Academy of Family Physicians
Tar Wars Poster Contest
12012 Technology Blvd. Ste. 200
Austin, Texas 78727

Criteria for Poster Submissions
The AAFP Tar Wars national office has set the following criteria for poster submissions. Please be sure to go over these with your students to ensure compliance and avoid disqualification.

• Only fourth- and fifth-grade students who have had the Tar Wars presentation are eligible to submit posters for the contest.
• Posters must incorporate creative and original artwork and ideas. Depictions of cartoon, video game, and movie/television characters; celebrities; movie themes; and past poster designs does not constitute creativity and originality.
• Posters must deliver a clear and positive message about being tobacco-free. Death themes and art displaying negative health consequences (i.e., cigarettes, ashtrays, coffins, people smoking, etc.) are not considered positive messages.
• Posters must be no larger than standard poster board size (22” x 28”) and no smaller than 9” x 12”.
• Posters should not be laminated or mounted on mat board. Also, do not staple, glue, or tape entry forms to the backs of posters.
• Ask students to refrain from writing their name or other identifying information on the front of their poster. Poster contest entry numbers should not be marked on the fronts of posters either.
• Students may use a variety of media, such as watercolor, pen and ink, crayon, chalk, markers, etc.
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• Computer clip art, pictures from magazines and other print media, or any other copyrighted brand or product images will not be accepted.
• Students may not work in pairs.

Failure to comply with the guidelines could result in a disqualification of the poster.

Judging
Posters will be judged on their artistry, creativity, originality, and their ability to communicate a clear and positive message to remain tobacco-free. Posters will also be judged on their compliance with the criteria listed above.