MS Students Earn Top Spot in Anti-Drug Contest

Three West Orange middle school students have placed in first, second and third in the “What Keeps You Drug and Alcohol Free?” poster contest.

Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo, Jr. congratulated the winners of the contest on Aug. 1 for their art that promoted drug and alcohol free lifestyles for adolescents.

“We congratulate the winners of the poster contest. Having young people share their artistic talents to spread a positive message about stay alcohol and drug free sends a strong message to their peers,” he added.

It was open to Essex County students in grades 6 to 12, and 59 student artists participated. The winners are:

Middle School

• 1st Place: Lorenzo Jiles, 8th Grade, from Liberty Middle School in West Orange
• 2nd Place: Supreme Cook, 6th Grade, from Lincoln Avenue School in Orange
• 3rd Place: Anusha Sivandra, 8th Grade, from Liberty Middle School in West Orange 

High School

• 1st Place: Cecilia Chollette-Dickson, 9th Grade, from University High School in Newark
• 2nd Place: Mia Walton and Sarah Franzeth, 10th Grade, from Cedar Grove High School
• 3rd Place: Savannah Lopez and Melanie Calantropio, 12th Grade, from Cedar Grove High School

The goal of the contest was to raise awareness among middle school and high school students about underage drinking and drug abuse. It is sponsored by the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Team.

 “The positive messages of these posters have the potential to counteract the slick advertisements and negative influences that glamourize drinking and doing drugs,” said ADAPT Coordinator Joel Torres. 

Torres added, “This contest gave students an opportunity to send an inspiring message to residents throughout Essex County. Their artwork has the potential to change the life of a fellow community member by promoting ways to stay safe and healthy by being drug- and alcohol-free."

Artwork created by the winners will be transformed into posters that will be displayed on NJ Transit buses. Posters will also be available to local businesses that want to display them in their front windows or in their stores.

“Underage drinking and drug abuse are serious threats to the stability of our families and communities, and cannot be ignored," DiVincenzo said. "Organizations such as ADAPT combine the resources of the community and take a proactive approach to raise awareness among adolescents about the dangers of substance abuse, discouraging them to going down that path."