The top three winning student groups from this year’s Newtown Middle School My Favorite Scarecrow Contest have been announced.

Created by Teresa Forlenzo and Rachel O’Grady, the “Scrat” scarecrow portraying a character from the movie Ice Age took first place. The “One Direction Minions” scarecrow — created by Priya Deraney, Izzy Kaiser, and Caroline Viselli — took second place, and the “Kevin” scarecrow — created by Olivia Mubarek, Amanda Berry, Hana Rosenthal, Tess Mubarek, and Jessica Stolfi — took third place.

The My Favorite Scarecrow Contest entries went on display Saturday, October 19, and remained on display until Sunday, October 27. Voting on the scarecrows was open while the creations were on view. Nearly 40 scarecrows were on display for the contest this year.

This year marked the 17th year eighth grade student groups have been challenged to create a larger-than-life scarecrow, designed to frighten away a demon of their choice, that can withstand inclement weather. The scarecrows are then put on display on NMS’s front lawn on Queen Street, voted on by the public for $1 per vote, and the top three winning scarecrow groups receive the proceeds to donate to charities of their choice.

The “Scrat” creators have chosen to give their winnings to Ben’s Lighthouse, a fund created in honor of Ben Wheeler and his Sandy Hook School classmates “to promote the long-term health of the children and families in the region while nurturing an environment of nonviolence and caring,” as stated on BensLighthouseFund.org.

The “One Direction Minions” creators were still undecided, according to NMS, by Thursday, October 31, as to what charity to give the winnings, and the “Kevin” creators have chosen to donate their winnings to the National Breast Cancer Foundation.