FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 4, 2022

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

Two Bergen County Students Win PDFNJ’s Statewide Fourth Grade Folder Contest

BERGENFIELD, NJ — Young people are using their artistic talents to encourage their peers to live a healthy substance-free lifestyle as part of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey’s (PDFNJ) Design a Fourth Grade Folder contest.  Nearly 3,000 fourth grade students from all 21 counties in New Jersey entered the contest, with two Bergen County students chosen as this year’s winners.

Sean Arrieta and Kristen Williams both from Hoover Elementary School in Bergenfield 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 3. 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.”

“All of the students are peer leaders and should be commended their artistic talent and sharing these important messages that showcase what it means to live a healthy drug-free lifestyle,” said Angelo Valente, Executive Director of PDFNJ."

 Sean’s winning artwork                                   Kristen’s winning artwork

 Sean’s design, titled “Zoom With Friends,” earned him top honors, and Kristen won for her design, titled “Be Who You Want To Be."

“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/2022online 

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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 211 advertising and public relations awards from national, regional and statewide media organizations.