Alcohol Responsibility Matters Scholarship

HELENA – Montana’s Department of Revenue (DOR) Alcoholic Beverage Control Division (ABCD) is a member of the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (NABCA) and received an alcohol education grant from this organization. NABCA’s mission is to support member jurisdictions in their efforts to protect public health and safety and ensure responsible and efficient systems for beverage alcohol distribution and sales.

ABCD is awarding five, one-time, $2,000 scholarships to the following Montana students who came up with the best designs for billboards dedicated to the question: What does “Alcohol Responsibility Matters” mean to you and your community? Submissions were based on the billboard designs as well as essays. There were 59 submissions. Congratulations to the following winners!

2024 Winners

  • Zoe Axtman – Manhattan, MT
  • Halle Fitzgerald – Dillon, MT
  • Nicole Nau – Sunburst, MT
  • Stella Overstreet – Cut Bank, MT
  • Cora Pruitt – Bozeman, MT

Billboards in high-traffic areas across Montana will be used to promote the importance of responsible alcohol consumption. The billboards will have a consistent theme centered on Montana with the tagline “Alcohol Responsibility Matters” and the existing logo along with the student’s original design.

ABCD hopes to provide community-centered messages that remind individuals 21 and over of the importance of being responsible when consuming alcohol. This will support the overall theme of ABCD Alcohol Responsibility Matters resources for Alcohol Awareness Month in April.

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Livingston I-90 Eastbound
Livingston I-90 Eastbound
A billboard with a bucking horse silhouette and the outline of Montana with the text "BUCK THE TREND – ALCOHOL RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS," and a mention of a scholarship winner, Zoe A. from Manhattan, MT.
Zoe Axtman - Manhattan, MT
Attends Manhattan High School and will be attending Montana State University Billings
Deer Lodge I-90 Eastbound
Deer Lodge I-90 Eastbound
A billboard featuring a group of people in a circle putting their hands together with the text "ALCOHOL RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS – ARE YOU ALL IN?" and including social media icons. Features the scholarship winner and designer Halle F. from Dillon, MT
Halle Fitzgerald - Dillon, MT
Attends Beaverhead County High School and will be attending Carroll College
Malta US2 Eastbound
Malta US2 Eastbound
A billboard with a bucking horse silhouette and the outline of Montana with the text "BUCK THE TREND – ALCOHOL RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS," and a mention of a scholarship winner, Nicole N. from Sunburst,MT.
Nicole Nau - Sunburst, MT
Attends North Toole County High School and will be attending Carroll College
Shelby US2 Westbound
Shelby US2 Westbound
A billboard against a backdrop of a mountain landscape at dusk, with the message "BIG SKY BIG RESPONSIBILITY – YOUR FREEDOM. YOUR FAMILY. YOUR FRIENDS. YOUR SAFETY," promoting Alcohol Awareness Month. Features mention of scholarship winner Stella O. from Cut Bank, MT.
Stella Overstreet - Cut Bank, MT
Attends Cut Bank High School and will be attending the University of Montana
Forsyth I-94 Westbound
Forsyth I-94 Westbound
A billboard promoting Alcohol Responsibility with a mountain road forming the letter "A" in "ALCOHOL," and the text "RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS – THE LAST BEST PLACE FOR GOOD CHOICES," featuring social media icons.
Cora Pruitt - Bozeman, MT
Attends Gallatin High School and will be attending Montana State University-Bozeman
Helena Digital N. Montana Ave Northbound (All Designs will cycle through)
Helena Digital N. Montana Ave Northbound
A billboard for Alcohol Awareness Month with a creative design incorporating the "A" of "ALCOHOL" to look like a mountain landscape and the message "RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS – SMALL TOWN. BIG SKY. GOOD TIMES." along with social media icons.
DESIGN BY ABCD
(All Designs will cycle through)
Bonner I-90 Eastbound
Bonner I-90 Eastbound
A simplified billboard design for Alcohol Awareness Month with Montana's outline, the "ALCOHOL" design resembling a mountain, and the slogan "RESPONSIBILITY MATTERS – SMALL TOWN. BIG SKY. GOOD TIMES." along with a web address and social media icons.
DESIGN BY ABCD
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Billboard Locations:

Forsyth I-94 Westbound (Winner from Bozeman)

Livingston I-90 Eastbound (Winner from Manhattan)

Shelby US2 Westbound (Winner from Cutbank)

Malta US2 Eastbound (Winner from Sunburst)

Deer Lodge I-90 Eastbound (Winner from Dillon)

Bonner I-90 Eastbound (ABCD Design)

Red Lodge US212 Westbound (ABCD Design)

Helena Digital N. Montana Ave Northbound (All Designs)

Honorable Mentions

  • Josie S. – Roundup, MT
  • Ryan M. – Clancy, MT
  • Weston S. – Big Timber, MT
  • Wyatt M. – Corvallis, MT
  • Danica T. – Red Lodge, MT
  • Michael F. – Great Falls, MT
  • Hailey P. – Dillon, MT

A huge thank you to all Alcohol Responsibility Matters applicants!

ABCD is committed to promoting safe and responsible alcohol sales, service, and consumption. Each week in April, ABCD will send information designed to share and encourage safe and responsible alcohol choices, sales, and service to those signed up for the DOR newsletter.

The weekly topics are April 1 Responsible Night Out; April 8 Responsibly Handling Tipsy Customers; April 15 Responsible Alcohol Establishment Best Practices; April 22 Responsible Carding – the ABCs of IDs; and April 29 Alcohol Awareness Beyond April.

In addition to best practices, tips, and strategies, there will be weekly posters highlighting the topic of the week. These full-color, print-ready posters will be available on our website, and we encourage everyone to share them with your staff and post or hang them in your establishment.

For more information about Alcohol Responsibility Matters go to responsibilitymatters.mtrevenue.gov or contact the ABCD Outreach and Education Unit at dorabcd-o&e@mt.gov.