JEFFERSON CITY, MO – Hudson Williams of Neosho, Missouri, a high school senior at Neosho High School has been awarded a $1500 scholarship through the 29th annual Project 21 Scholarship competition towards tuition at Pittsburg State University where he plans to study Pre-Med/Dentistry. Sponsored by the Missouri Gaming Association, the statewide professional association of the Missouri casino industry, Project 21 was developed to educate young people about the issues and dangers of underage gambling. To date, $198,500 Project 21 scholarships have been awarded to Missouri students.
“We know that young people are influenced by their peers, so Project 21 encourages students to learn about the issues of underage gambling and share that information with their classmates,” said Mike Winter, executive director of the Missouri Gaming Association. “The Missouri casino industry is dedicated to supporting education in our state, both through the education funding from gaming tax revenues and through awareness efforts like Project 21.”
In Missouri, it’s illegal for persons under the age of 21 to gamble in a casino. The students were asked to create an essay/article, poster or video aimed at educating their peers about the illegality and dangers of underage gambling. The entries were published or viewed in the students’ high schools to help educate other students.The competition is open to all Missouri high school seniors planning to attend an institution of higher education in the United States within four years of graduation.
Williams’ award-winning entry was a poster and article titled “Deterring Young People From Underage Gambling and The Consequences of Gambling.” The article was published in the Wright City Journal and the poster was displayed outside of the counseling office at Blair Oaks High School.
“As you grow older, you learn the value of money. Money control is one of the things that money affects. The younger you start to gamble, even the most simple gambling can lead you to just wanting to spend more and diminish your understanding of money,” wrote Williams.
This year, the Missouri Gaming Association awarded one $2,500 scholarship and two $1,500 scholarships to students from Jefferson City, Neosho and Mountain Grove, Missouri. The awards are jointly issued to the winners and their selected accredited institutions of higher education.
ABOUT MISSOURI GAMING ASSOCIATION
The Missouri Gaming Association (MGA) is the statewide trade association of the Missouri casino entertainment industry. Founded in 1993, the Missouri Gaming Association works to promote responsible gaming and increase awareness of the economic benefits of casinos in Missouri. The MGA and its casino company members sponsor year-round responsible gaming programs including the 1-888-BETSOFF crisis line and referral service, Project 21 scholarship competition, and Responsible Gaming Awareness Week. For more information, visit www.missouricasinos.org.
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