Cape Assist and the CMCHCC Celebrate 2023 PSA Contest Winners

Wildwood, NJ – Cape Assist and the Cape May County Healthy Community Coalition (CMCHCC) recognized 33 young winners of their annual PSA contest along with two individuals who demonstrated their dedication to community, prevention and education during the Public Policy and Awards Breakfast held at the Avalon Links on Tuesday, April 25.

This year’s PSA topics revolved around connectivity and reflection with prompts such as “Let’s Connect,” “Above the Influence,” “Dear Me,” and “Valuing Diversity” - all geared towards substance misuse prevention and education. Winners from 10 different schools in Cape May County created videos, posters, and short essays based around their chosen topic.

The ceremony began with breakfast for those in attendance followed by recognition for the Partners in Prevention awards. The two awardees were Michael McKnight, a longtime educator and running training and programs with Cape Assist and Mr. Herman Cruse, a bus driver and reading mentor in Middle Township Elementary Schools, who devoted his free time to reading with the young students. Cruse’s highlight on NBC’s Today Show was also featured during the presentation.

“It was an honor to present this award to two individuals who have proven day after day that they demonstrate what it means to go above and beyond, to uplift the youth around them,” said Cape Assist CEO and Executive Director, Katie Faldetta. “You don’t need to be a Cape Assist employee to be part of our team. The amazing things happening right in our backyard are a huge part in how we succeed as a community.”

The program concluded with announcing each PSA contest winner and an opportunity to take a photo with Cape May County Commissioner Jeffrey Pierson, Assemblyman Antwan McClellan, Assemblymen Erik Simonsen, Cape May County Prosecutor Jeffrey Sutherland, HCC Coalition members Sherry Phillips and Capt. Joseph Landis, Cape Assist’s Katie Faldetta and Natalia Leusner. The CMCHCC 2023 PSA winners are:

• “Advice to My Future Self”
  • PSA by Savannah Charles
  • Middle TWP Elementary #2 3rd grade

• “We Grow Together”
  • Poster by Ariana Keenan and Melena Hamilton
  • Margaret Mace Elementary 3rd grade

• “The Me I want to Be”
  • PSA by Mekhi Alston
  • Margaret Mace Elementary 8th grade

• “Don’t Have a Reason to Regret It”
  • PSA by Grace Williams
  • Margaret Mace Elementary 7th grade

• “Road of Life”
  • Poster by Emma Marcellino
  • Margaret Mace Elementary 8th grade

• “Siblings Connect”
  • Video by Marlo Brown, Quinn Brown, and Kellen Brown
  • Cape May Technical HS 12th grade and Dennis TWP Elementary 3rd & 4th grades

• “Deaf ≠ Defective”
  • Poster by Tana Moran
  • Cape May Technical HS 12th grade

• “Vanquish Vaping”
  • Video by Dailey Burrows, Paige Peters, Nikoli Harris, and Robert Attenborough
  • Dennis TWP Middle School 8th grade

• “The Cure Becomes the Sickness”
  • PSA by Noah Martin
  • Ocean City HS 10th grade

• “Saying No to Drugs and Alcohol”
  • Poster by Erin Cantwell
  • Ocean City HS 11th grade

• “Future Affirmations”
  • Poster by Keira Reilly
  • Ocean City HS 11th grade

• “A Letter to the Girl I Once Knew”
  • PSA by Bria Condella
  • Ocean City HS 11th grade

• “What is the One Thing You’d Like to Do to Improve Yourself?”
  • Video by Nathan McMaster and Michael Sherretta
  • Middle TWP Middle School 8th grade

• “The Little Things Matter”
  • Video by Jayla Williams and Kylie Fulford
  • Lower Cape May Regional 11th & 10th

• “Above the Influence in 2023”
  • Video by Jeffrey Flincham, Jason Scheffer, Jahcere Harris, and Bronson Goodavage
  • Lower Cape May Regional 11th & 10th

• “Stay Informed”
  • Video by Julia Ennis, Sofia Avetisyan, Keira Peterson, and Oleksa Domanowski
  • Crest Memorial School 7th grade

• “So, She Did..”
  • PSA by Lindsey Rosell
  • Wildwood Catholic Academy 12th grade

• “Un Carta a Mi Misma” – “Letter to Myself”
  • Bilingual PSA by Anahely Quiroz-Ramirez and Yolanda Ubaldo
  • Wildwood HS 10th grade

• “Internet Addiction”
  • Video by Liliana Pelaez-Rojas and Ryan Cruz
  • Wildwood HS 11th & 10th

“These awards help us show youth how they can use their voices to help others,” said CMCHCC Coordinator Natalia Leusner. “Sometimes the best voice for reaching youth is their peers. It’s inspiring to see young people stepping up as leaders and advocating for better decision-making and brighter futures.”

Students were supported by school leaders, teachers, parents and other local dignitaries and community members.

Winning PSAs will also be highlighted at upcoming Cape Assist functions and workshops, featured on both Cape Assist and CMCHCC’s social media pages, as well as on the contest page: www.cmchcc.org/psa. PSA’s may also be part of sponsored radio spots.