Union Co. Teen Gets 1st Place For Substance Use Prevention Song

UNION COUNTY, NJ — A Union County teen won first place for a song she wrote to shout down drugs for the Drug-Free New Jersey’s Your Song! Your Voice! Shout Down Drugs New Jersey music competition.

The competition, now in its 18th year, challenged New Jersey high school students to be peer leaders and take a stand against substance abuse and misuse by creating original music and lyrics with substance use prevention messages.

Keyoni Lee of Thomas Jefferson Arts Academy in Union County won first place for her original song, “Never Too Late.” Second place and third place were awarded Atlantic County and Bergen County residents respectively.

The first-place winner received a music contract worth $5,000. Second- and third-place winners earned $3,000 and $2,000 music contracts, respectively. The winning students will perform their original songs at statewide events over the next year.

The competition culminated with the Prevention Concert that was held virtually on May 12.

“These talented New Jersey high school students are true peer leaders on the issue of substance use prevention,” said PDFNJ’s Executive Director Angelo Valente. “Each of the participants should be commended for their creativity, musical talent and resolve to use their talent to spread important prevention messages.”

The concert played on the contest website, ShoutDownDrugs.com, and featured the musical performances of nine finalists from throughout the state.

WRAT Creative Director and PM Drive DJ Jimmy Steal announced the winners live on 95.9 FM WRAT at the conclusion of the concert.

The winners were chosen by a panel of independent judges, as well as online voting, which began in February and closed at midnight May 11. The contest website featured a profile of each musical act, and the public was able to vote for their favorite songs

To listen to recording of the Prevention Concert Audio Show, visit ShoutDownDrugs.com. Each of the winning musical acts will be featured on WRAT’s Jersey Rock show at 11:30 pm on May 17, 18 and 19. To listen, tune in to WRAT 95.9 FM or go to www.wrat.com.