This week, 10-year-old Alana McGuinness is at science camp.
Besides science, she loves the environment, skating, gymnastics and the mind game of chess.
Alana's also an artist.
"I just wanted to let people know that my choice is not to use tobacco ever. So that's why I put my portrait in there," she said.
Alana created a poster as part of a school assignment as part of the education program Tar Wars.
"It's a tobacco education program and we're trying also to let kids know what happens with advertisements. It's an interesting statistic about 80 percent of all people who later are addicted to nicotine start smoking before they're 18," said Dr. Art Frazzano, Tar Wars supporter.
Alana's poster, representing St. Mary's Bay View Academy, won the Rhode Island competition with her message -- reflect a positive image, live tobacco free. It landed her and her family in the nation's Capitol, where she competed against close to forty other students.
"It was nice to see everyone's posters," Alana said.
Alana said she didn't think she was going win, but she did. She met U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, and received a $2,000 cash prize.
"I put a lot of thought into it, but instead of taking a vacation, I want to donate half to Tar Wars and half to my school," she said.
"That's totally her decision. Very proud of her. She thinks of others and I can't be more proud of her to do that," said Alana's father, Kevin McGuinness.
It's the first time a Rhode Island student has won the national competition.
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