Polytech’s National Art Honor Society to Host ‘Coloring in Hope’

Flemington, N.J. – The 15 students in the National Art Honor Society at Hunterdon County Polytech Career and Technical School know that to support the mental health and wellness of their peers, they first have to break the stigma associated with mental illness and addiction. They plan to do just that on Thursday, May 17 by hosting the inaugural Coloring in Hope event.

“Through this event, we want to raise awareness that many people do suffer from these illnesses, and in fact, it is likely that we all know someone dealing with depression, anxiety or addiction,” said Michele Motta, president of Polytech’s NAHS.

Polytech’s NAHS members have ventured to create an agenda for Coloring in Hope that brings mental illness and addiction into the open to spark greater awareness and empathy for those affected. Beverly Stoskus, a licensed professional counselor, will present on the warning signs of mental illness and addiction and ways to support individuals who suffer from these illnesses.

A secondary goal of the evening is to promote overall mental health and wellness. Participants will have opportunities to relax their own minds and bodies with yoga led by Rayanna Schnarr, a positive psychology and yoga allied professional, and through an art activity led by Megan Kelley, an art therapist with the East Mountain Youth Lodge. Individually, participants can color images created by Polytech art students to promote stress reduction.

The Polytech students plan to recruit participation throughout the evening in a large art project that will eventually find a home in a local mental health facility. They will also sell original artwork – purchased by cash or check only – to benefit a nonprofit that supports mental health or addiction. The NAHS members will continue to research and discuss the benefitting organizations of both the large-scale art and the funds raised.

“My students have talked openly about mental health throughout the academic year, triggered by their own struggles or the stories that have left an impression on them like teen suicide or lives lost to addiction,” said Teresa Diaz, a commercial art and 3D animation instructor and NAHS advisor at Polytech. “Because the NAHS annually executes a community service project, the students decided to focus their efforts this year on mental health and wellness since they are passionate about the topic and determined to make a difference.”

The students invite individuals of all ages to participate in the Coloring in Hope event, which will run 6-8:30 p.m. on May 17 at Polytech’s Bartles Campus, 8 Bartles Corner Rd., Flemington.

RSVP is encouraged to help plan the evening, but it is not required to attend. Please RSVP by contacting Teresa Diaz at 908-788-1119 x 2021 or tdiaz@hcpolytech.org. You may also RSVP online at http://evite.me/JVyTfzXav2.

Hunterdon County Polytech Career and Technical School is the largest component of Hunterdon County Vocational School District (HCVSD). Polytech is the district’s shared-time high school that prepares students for a seamless transition to college and career paths. HCVSD also operates an Adult and Continuing Education school and three science-based high school academies. In addition to the Biomedical Sciences Academy, the other academies include the Computer Science and Applied Engineering Academy and the Environmental Sustainability and Engineering Academy. Learn more at www.hcvsd.org.