FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 13, 2021

Contact: Natalie Golub, 973-382-4560, natalie@drugfreenj.org

Middlesex and Cumberland County Students Win PDFNJ Statewide Fourth Grade Folder Contest

MILLBURN — Among more than 1,000 fourth grade students from all 21 New Jersey counties who showcased their artistic skills and entered the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey’s (PDFNJ) Design a Fourth Grade Folder contest this year, two have earned the honor to inspire next year’s fourth grade students.

Michael McCabe from James A. McDivitt School in Old Bridge, Middlesex County, and Nathan Tenev from St. Mary’s School in Vineland, Cumberland County, were selected as co-winners of the contest.  Their designs will be featured on the 40,000 folders distributed to fourth grade classrooms throughout the state this fall.

The talented winners were chosen out of 33 finalists who were showcased in a virtual award ceremony held on May 12. Classroom posters featuring all of the finalists’ designs will be distributed to the classrooms as well.

The virtual awards ceremony honored each of the finalists, allowing them to showcase their work in a video presentation. All 33 fourth grade student finalists will receive medals for their creative peer-to-peer substance use prevention artwork with the theme “Fun Things to Do Instead of Drugs.”

“These students should not only be applauded for their artistic talent, but also for being peer leaders and sharing these important drug-free messages,” said Angelo Valente, Executive Director of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey. “Their artwork showcases what it means to them to live a healthy drug-free lifestyle.”

Michael’s design, titled “Delete Drugs from your System,” earned him top honors, and Nathan won for his design, titled “Do Sports, Art, Music. Don’t Do Drugs."

“It is never too early to begin the conversation and educate today’s youth about substance use and prevention efforts,” Valente said. “The Fourth Grade Folder Contest is just one example of how to engage students and encourage them to make smart decisions throughout their lives.”

To view the Fourth Grade Folder Contest presentation, please visit:  drugfreenj.org/2021online/

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Best known for its statewide substance use prevention advertising campaign, the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey is a private not-for-profit coalition of professionals from the communications, corporate and government communities whose collective mission is to reduce demand for illicit drugs in New Jersey through media communication. To date, more than $100 million in broadcast time and print space has been donated to the Partnership’s New Jersey campaign, making it the largest public service advertising campaign in New Jersey’s history. Since its inception the Partnership has garnered 188 advertising and public relations awards from national, regional and statewide media organizations.