OLD BRIDGE – More than 3,000 fourth grade students from across New Jersey showed off their artistic skill as part of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey’s Design a Fourth Grade Folder contest this year, but only 32 earned recognition at the program award ceremony.
All finalists received medals on May 7 at Jenkinson’s Boardwalk in Point Pleasant for their creative peer-to-peer substance use prevention artwork following the theme “Fun Things to Do Instead of Drugs.”
“These young students have set tremendous examples for their peers to follow,” Angelo Valente, executive director of the partnership said in a statement. “Their creative artwork has delivered a strong message to themselves, fellow students, teachers and parents about the importance of enjoying a healthy, drug-free life.”
Local winners include Anvay Ajmera of James A. McDivitt School in Old Bridge and Rhyan Vill of St. Thomas the Apostle School in Old Bridge.
“Substance use prevention efforts are vital to helping build healthy lives for New Jersey’s youth,” Valente said in the statement. “Early prevention programs like the Fourth Grade Folder Contest are effective ways to educate and engage young students in making safe and healthy decisions for their future.”
