State Honoree

Shawn Hawkins, 18, of Branson, Missouri, a senior at Branson High School, wrote, directed, and produced a film about teenage drinking and driving that is now shown to all freshmen health students at his school. "Alcoholism has been part of my family," said Shawn. "I have always been concerned about fellow students that struggle with all the tough decisions and choices that are out there for teens today." Shawn first had to teach himself how to make a movie, because a learning disability prevented him from taking the necessary technology classes. Then he solicited advice from his city's fire chief, who deals with many emergency calls concerning alcohol every year. To finance his movie, Shawn got funding from the City of Branson and asked local businesses for support, ending up with 32 sponsors. His school has begun screening a portion of the 15-minute movie, entitled "The Ripple Effect," for all freshmen health students, and now plans to show it to all graduating seniors each year. The film also is being broadcast for an entire year on a local cable television channel. "My intention was to make my peers think and understand that when they make certain decisions, they cannot go back and rewind their lives like I can rewind my film," said Shawn.