Fourth-Grader Feted for Anti-Drug Artwork

Isabella Mastrocola, a fourth-grade student at Saint Catharine School in Spring Lake, was one of 30 statewide finalists honored for her artwork in the 13th annual Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey/Verizon New Jersey Design a Fourth Grade Folder Contest.

Isabella was among 8,000 students from around the state to participate, and she was honored with an awards ceremony April 17 at the Verizon New Jersey headquarters in Newark.

Fourth-graders were tasked with creating artwork with the theme "Fun Things to Do Instead of Doing Drugs."

“These fourth graders from around the state are setting tremendous examples for others to follow,” said Dennis Bone, president of Verizon New Jersey. “With their creativity and enthusiasm, they are to be commended for delivering compelling messages through their artwork to other students about enjoying a healthy life without drugs. Thanks to the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey, this contest helps children and teens understand that there are alternatives to drugs that are fun and rewarding.”

The 2012 grand prize winning entries are Malk Aziz of Christa McAuliffe P.S. 28 in Jersey City and Kennedy Christiana of All Saints Catholic Academy in Bayonne. Aziz and Christiana’s peer-to-peer substance abuse prevention artwork will be featured on 35,000 folders that will be distributed to schools throughout New Jersey in September 2012.

“The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey has consistently believed that early prevention programs like the Fourth Grade Folder Contest are effective ways to actively engage New Jersey’s young people in selecting and maintaining a drug-free, healthy lifestyle,” said Angelo M. Valente, executive director of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey.