In January, Middlesex County Sheriff Mildred Scott invited all fourth grade students throughout the county to submit artwork for two Sheriff’s Office publications.
The purpose of the books, “Bicycle Safety” and “Personal Safety,” is to serve as a guide for children on riding safety, traffic safety, stranger awareness, home security, injury prevention and other topics, and include fun learning activities.
The Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office received more than 700 entries. Forty one were selected to be included in the books, according to information provided by the sheriff’s office.
“I was so impressed with the quality and number of entries we received. It’s reassuring to know that our children are thinking about their own personal safety and the safety of others. They expressed their thoughts beautifully in words and pictures,” Scott said in the statement.
The final product contains information by safety experts, but the tips and all the images are submissions from students. The Sheriff’s Office Community Awareness Officers will distribute the books over the next two years at health and safety fairs, community days, and school assemblies throughout the county. During these events, the officers speak to parents, grandparents, and students from preschool through high school about the importance of personal safety at home, when using transportation, and on the internet, according to the statement.
The sheriff’s office recognized the 41 contributing students in a ceremony at the Middlesex County Fire Academy in Sayreville on May 29.
The two cover winners – Nathan Ferrer of McDivitt School in Old Bridge for “Bicycle Safety,” and Mohit Kavle of Brunswick Acres School in South Brunswick for “Personal Safety” – were awarded Mongoose mountain bicycles.
The inside art winners – Shaurya Telang of Lafayette Estates School in Woodbridge for “Bicycle Safety,” and Lakshanya Prabhu of Mawbey Street School in Woodbridge for “Personal Safety” – received gift cards.
“Bicycle Safety” Honorable Mentions go to Chineye Emeh of McDivitt; Skylar Ferreri of Campbell Elementary School in Metuchen, Darelyn Garcia of Brunswick Acres, Shane Guerra of Campbell, Meher Guliani of McDivitt, Shreya Kailasanath of Brunswick Acres, Nicholas Kariotis of Memorial Elementary School of East Brunswick, Kethana Kasipathy of Cambridge Elementary School of South Brunswick, Mia Knolmayer of Campbell, Kiko Li of Campbell, Kayla Mathew of Mawbey, Glenn Mohr of Matthew Jago School of Woodbridge, Amber Murray of Campbell, Chelsea Saldana of John Adams Elementary School of North Brunswick, Melanie Sanchez of Matthew Jago, Guiliana Rose Sosonovich of Matthew Jago, and Justin Vanalst-Mehi of McDivitt.
“Personal Safety” Honorable Mentions go to Ella Andersen of Campbell, Mahi Bhamkar of John Adams, Eric Campaignio of Matthew Jago, Maya Carter of Lafayette Estates, Adrianna Cosme of South Amboy Elementary School, Noah Cruz of South Amboy, Sara DePinto of Mawbey Street, Gabrielle Evanski of South Amboy, Eva Fernandez of Campbell, Avisikta Kundu of Lafayette Estates, Madison Magrino of Memorial, Gavin Moorman of Campbell, Isaiah Mouscardy of Matthew Jago, Willafred Patel of Campbell, Jaiden Patrizzo of South Amboy, Kaylie Pinnock of McDivitt, Mia Pintos of Brunswick Acres, Rose Surgan of Campbell and Bradley Warner of Campbell.
For more information on the Middlesex County Sheriff’s Office, call 732-745-3382.
