 In its second year, the program was designed to encourage
middle school students to work with their parents on creating
billboard messages that depict the dangers of illicit alcohol
use by young people. This year’s program, which is funded
through federal grant money awarded to the Partnership for a
Drug-Free New Jersey by the ABC, produced 457 entries from throughout
the State. Thirteen winning messages were selected from these
submissions and will be featured on a calendar to be distributed
to middle schools this Fall. One message will be featured each
month, and the grand prize winning message will be displayed
on the calendar’s front cover. Additionally, the grand
prize winning message, unveiled at today’s press conference,
will be reproduced on highway billboards around the State. The
grand prize winner also received a $500 savings bond.
 According to ABC Director Jerry Fischer, the program is a
critical tool in helping the State combat underage drinking.
“If we are to succeed in our efforts to combat the
abuse of alcohol by our children, we must recognize that it
is imperative that the process of parental involvement and
talking to our children must start and continue at an early
age, when our young people are forming their habits and social
values,” Director Fischer said. “This initiative
is helping us accomplish that by having both parent and child
play an equal part in raising awareness about the dangers of
underage drinking.”
“The mission of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New
Jersey has always been to raise the level of discussion on
the issues of drug and alcohol abuse among New Jersey’s
families,” said Partnership Chairman Joseph P. Miele. “Research
has consistently shown that the most important education a
child will ever get is the one they receive at home. The impact
of this innovative program can be best judged by the power
of the messages that were submitted by the students. Indeed,
families are realizing that underage drinking is a real problem.”
The finalists, the grand prize winner and their schools are
listed below: Grand Prize Winner: Loriel Letizia, St. Veronica’s
School, Howell, Monmouth County. Finalists: Meredith Malm,
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Highlands, Monmouth County; Colleen
King, Christ the King Regional School, Haddonfield, Camden
County; Timothy Pendolino, Colonia Middle School, Colonia,
Middlesex County; Kim Konopka, Glen Meadow Middle School, Vernon,
Sussex County; Jackie Lou Ferrer, Belleville Middle School,
Belleville, Essex County; Chris Early, Woodbridge Middle School,
Woodbridge, Middlesex County; Willard Reasoner, Kingwood Twp.
School, Frenchtown, Hunterdon County; Katie McKenna Attinello,
Kingwood Twp. School, Frenchtown, Hunterdon County; Chelsea
Ruhland, Kingwood Twp. School, Frenchtown, Hunterdon County;
Alexzandra Earley, St. Elizabeth School, Linden, Union County;
Vince Patrick Sioco, St. Elizabeth School, Linden, Union County;
and Blaine Caslin, St. Veronica’s School, Howell, Monmouth
County.
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