Fourth Grader Takes First in Statewide Poster Contest

A fourth-grader in Belleville’s School No. 7 was the co-winner of The Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey and Verizon Design a Fourth Grade Folder Contest, officials have announced.
Armando Alvarado of Belleville shared the top prize – four tickets each to a future Yankee game -- in the “Fun Things To Do Instead of Drugs” contest with a student from Jackson.
The contest required the students to come up with original slogans and corresponding artwork and creating substance abuse prevention messages.
More than 7,000 fourth-grade students statewide participated in the contest and on April 13, 30 finalists were honored in a ceremony held at Verizon’s Newark headquarters, where their work was exhibited.
Their artworks, with original peer-to-peer substance abuse prevention messages, will be reproduced as front and back covers of 25,000 folders to be distributed to all New Jersey schools by the start of school in September.
Alvarado’s winning artwork contained the message “Need a Rush, Race to the Finish Line, Not to Drugs.”
The fourth grader said he loves racing — cars, bikes and marathons. That’s why when asked to come up “Fun Things To Do Instead of Drugs,” he thought of the “Race Against Drugs” concept for his artwork.
His parents, Arthur and Anna Alvarado, are very proud and happy of their son.
“They said the judges really had a hard time choosing the winners from among thousands of very creative entries,” said his father said.
The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey holds the annual folder design contest as part of their anti-drug campaign.
“PDFNJ 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, on the PDFNJ website.

This year’s contest was held in partnership with Verizon New Jersey. According to Verizon NJ president Dennis Bone, also on the PDFNJ website, “The Partnership plays a vital role in this state helping show children and teens that there are alternatives to drugs and those alternatives are fun, rewarding and fulfilling.”
All 30 finalists were given a free tour at the Newark Museum and Planetarium, as part of their prize.
Alvarado’s artwork will be on display at School No. 7 after Spring break.