FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 7, 2026

Contact: Lisa Batitto, news@drugfreenj.org

Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey Announces Finalists in 2026 Fun Things to Do Instead of Drugs
Fourth Grade Contest

MILLBURN, NJ—The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) has announced the finalists for its 2026 Fun Things to Do Instead of Drugs fourth grade contest. The program highlights students’ artistic creativity and inspiring messages, and two student designs will be featured on bookmarks distributed to classrooms across New Jersey in 2026.

“The creativity of these young artists offers not only inspiration but a real pathway to change,” said Angelo M. Valente, Executive Director of PDFNJ. “Through their bookmark designs, students are spreading powerful, positive messages about making healthy choices.”

This year’s finalists represent schools in 19 New Jersey communities spanning 11 counties. All finalists will be honored during a virtual awards ceremony on Tuesday, May 26.

Bergen County:
Suhaib Toor, Wandell School, Saddle River
Sebastian Szala, Frank W. Gavlak Elementary, Wallington

Camden County:
Matthew Morales Monroy, Pennsauken Intermediate, Pennsauken

Essex County:
Matias Muruzumbay, Roberto Clemente Elementary, Newark
Jeyca Alvarez, Salome Urena Elementary, Newark
Joshua Flores, Salome Urena Elementary, Newark

Hudson County:
Hailey Sandres, P.S. 27 Alfred E. Zampella, Jersey City
Liyana Atif, P.S. 27 Alfred E. Zampella, Jersey City
Steven Fernandez, P.S. 27 Alfred E. Zampella, Jersey City

Middlesex County:
Danny Gilaj, Memorial Elementary School, Lawrence Harbor

Aimee Mercil, Carpenter Elementary, Old Bridge
Collin Hollema, James McDivitt Elementary, Old Bridge
Jaxon Pacheco, Grissom School, Old Bridge
Jaymie Asuncion, Shepard School, Old Bridge
Rebecca Fam, St. Thomas the Apostle School, Old Bridge
Yara Hamido, Grissom School, Old Bridge
Benjamin Rodriguez, South River Elementary, South River

Monmouth County:
Noah Medvigy, Raritan Valley School, Hazlet

Morris County:
Sara Galic, Mountview Road School, Morris Plains
Elizabeth Baron, All Saints Academy, Parsippany
Alina Chen, Bee Meadow Elementary, Whippany
Olivia Lin, Bee Meadow Elementary, Whippany
William Tsui, Salem Drive School, Whippany

Ocean County:
Dean Roguski, LBI Elementary School, Ship Bottom
Nova Dougherty, Whiting Elementary, Whiting

Passaic County:
Malak Shamroukh, School #5, Clifton

Somerset County:
Audrey Lautan, St. Matthias School, Somerset

Union County:
Emily Manning, St. Theresa School, Kenilworth
Emilee Stansbury, Grover Cleveland Elementary, Rahway
Analia Valenzuela, Sherman Elementary, Roselle Park

Last year’s grand prize winners, Adrian Camilo, a student at John F. Kennedy Elementary School in Jamesburg, and Madison Gunsch, a student at James McDivitt Elementary School in Old Bridge, were selected from thousands of entries. Their creative designs were featured on 40,000 bookmarks. For more information, visit drugfreenj.org/4thgradefinalists.

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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 $200 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 232 advertising and public relations awards from national, regional and statewide media organizations.