The four students loaded into the limo in front of Lake Mary High School at 11:30 a.m. to take advantage of one of their prizes, a recording session in a professional studio.
The four young men are Raphael Polk, Hector Salazar, Walter Walker II and Marion Ponce. They recorded their song, “My Conscience,” at Big Shot Studios in Altamonte Springs. They arrived at the studio at noon to begin a six-hour recording session.
Their song will subsequently be professionally mixed and become part of the Rap Against Violence, Vol. 2, DND (Develop Not Destroy) CD that will be distributed across a five-county area with 10 winning songs.
Other partners in the violence prevention program initiated by State Attorney Norm Wolfinger include: JAMZ 102, CrimeLine, the Orange County State Attorney’s Office, the Middle District of Florida U.S. Attorney’s Office, Brighthouse Networks, and the sheriff’s offices of Seminole, Brevard, Osceola and Orange counties. Other sponsors are Project Safe Neighborhoods.
The Rap contest is the gun violence preventive arm of Operation Cease-Fire, Wolfinger’s effort in gun crime prevention. Operation Cease-Fire focuses on speedy prosecution in federal and state systems of armed criminals.
“I salute these talented young artists and deeply appreciate the contribution they are making to their community and their generation. They are our hope for a peaceful tomorrow,” Wolfinger said in a news release.