Kids' Art Packs a Drug-Free Message

The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey announced today the winners of their annual fourth-grade folder art contest, where students were asked to produce drawings and a slogan based on the theme “Fun Things to do Instead of Doing Drugs.”

Of the 8,000 submissions received, 30 entries were named finalists and were honored Tuesday during a ceremony at Verizon’s corporate headquarters in downtown Newark.

Our Lady of the Lake student Jason Pereira was named one of the four Essex County finalists reaching the Top 30 overall finalists.

Verizon is the corporate sponsor of the contest. The young sloganeer-artists, as well as their families, were later given a tour of the nearby Newark Museum.

Two of those finalists were selected as the winners, and their artwork will grace folders to be distributed to grade school students throughout the state next year. The 2012 winners are Kennedy Christiana of All Saints Academy in Bayonne and Malk Aziz of Christa McAuliffe School #28 in Jersey City.

Some of the winning slogans were “Don’t Let Drugs Ruin Your Dreams,” “Make Better Choices with Drug-Free Voices” and “Hugs Not Drugs.” 

The remaining Essex County students who were among the 30 finalists included: N’Kavian Bryant -Johnson of St. Michael School in Newark, Mary Mankowich of Yantacaw School in Nutley, and Justin Galasso of Irvington, who attends Saint Michaels Parish School in Union, Union County.