School 2 Student Reaches Finals in Statewide Anti-Drug Poster Contest

Grace Park,a fourth grade student attending Fort Lee Elementary School #2, was a statewide, grand prize winner honored for her outstanding peer-to-peer drug prevention artwork at an awards ceremony held at the Newark Museum on April 24, 2013.

Over 8,000 fourth grade students from across New Jersey participated in the Fourteenth Annual Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey/Verizon New Jersey Design a Fourth Grade Folder Contest.  Park was one of 30 fourth grade students recognized for their creative peer-to-peer substance abuse prevention artwork with the theme, “Fun Things To Do Instead Of Doing Drugs.”

The 2013 grand prize winning entries were Madelyn Weinstein of Woodrow Wilson School in Neptune City and Joseph DiSpirito of Saint Leo the Great School in Lincroft. Weinstein’s and DiSpirito’s peer-to-peer substance abuse prevention artwork will be featured on 35,000 folders that will be distributed to schools throughout New Jersey in September 2013.

“These young students from around the state are setting tremendous examples for others to follow,” said Angelo M. Valente, executive director of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey. 

Valente continued, “With their creativity and enthusiasm, they are to be commended for delivering compelling messages through their artwork to other students about enjoying a healthy life without drugs. Their artwork will help other children and teens understand that there are alternatives to drugs that are fun and rewarding.”

“The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey has consistently believed that early prevention programs like the Fourth Grade Folder Contest, are effective ways to actively engage New Jersey’s young people in selecting and maintaining a drug free, healthy lifestyle,” explained Valente.