The Rappahannock Teen Abstinence Program recently honored local youths who submitted award-winning essays.

Winners of the essay contest, held in partnership with Miss Virginia 2009 Caressa Cameron, were announced at the organization's second annual benefit dinner and silent auction.

Lauren Surber, a freshman at Stafford High School, had the first-place essay and received a $100 savings bond.

The second-place essay, by Jerome Russell, won a $75 savings bond, and the third-place essay won Tiesha Mills a $50 savings bond.

The guest speaker for the event was Lamar Collins of Just Say YES in Temple, Texas. Collins also moderated a panel discussion, "The Real Deal About Abstinence," between Louie Ruiz, a junior at Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio, and Cameron, Miss Virginia.

The organization also presented the participants chosen to play a part in a public service announcement. They include Leah Ballinger, Mary Ballinger, Ashley Blaine, Skyler Boardley, Mikal Cardine, Anthony Constable, Ethan Gould, Sasha Nunberger, Emily Van Opdorp, Nicole Raven Williams, Brittany Wilson and Andreas Yancey.

The teen abstinence program, headquartered on Fall Hill Avenue, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the community on the value of sexual abstinence in youths.

The group's vision is to prevent teen pregnancies and promote abstinence by encouraging responsible decision-making through educating and empowering youths.

For information on the group, call 540/370-4238.