BERKELEY HEIGHTS, NJ — Three Berkeley Heights students and a teen from Mahway were named finalists for their original substance use prevention song created for the 15th annual New Jersey Shout Down Drugs high school music competition, sponsored by the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ).

Corey Stark, Uriel Ministro and Joseph Stecher of Governor Livingston High School and Mahwah High School student Veronica Birchak who formed the band, Delayed, earned the selection as the Union County finalists in the statewide program, which challenges high school students to create original music with lyrics that contain peer-to-peer substance use prevention messages.

Their song "Time Slipped Away," was selected by an independent panel of judges as the top entry from the county, earning them a spot to perform at the annual Prevention Concert at 7 p.m. Friday, May 10 at Rutgers University's Mastrobuono Theatre.

To see Delayed's profile, listen to "Time Slipped Away," and to cast vote click here. Voting is open through May 9. These results will factor into the finalists' scores on the night of the concert.

There are a total of 13 musical acts, comprised of 24 students from nine counties, that are competing for $10,000 in music contracts at the Prevention Concert.

"The 2019 New Jersey Shout Down Drugs participants have displayed not only creativity and musical talent, but also determination to make a difference in the lives of their peers by using their talent to spread important messages of prevention," PDFNJ Executive Director Angelo Valente said.

Bert Baron, morning talk show host on 1450 WCTC, will serve as the master of ceremonies at the concert, presented by the New Jersey Broadcasters Association and 1450 WCTC. Tickets to the concert are free of charge and can be reserved at ShoutDownDrugs.com or by calling 973-467-2100 ext. 19.