High school students from all over New Jersey showcased their musical talents in the 20th Your Song! Your Voice! Shout Down Drugs competition. This competition aims to promote a drug-free lifestyle through the power of music.
The winners are:
- 1st Place: Jordan Ford from Barnegat High School took the top spot with his song "Fading", earning a $5,000 music contract.
- 2nd Place: Joey Konopka from Hillside High School earned second place and a $3,000 contract for his song "Party Fever".
- 3rd Place (Tie): The third place was shared by two acts. Imperfectly Perfect, a duo from Sussex County Technical School (Zoe Caraballo and Jalexa Garcia), impressed with their song "Dimly Lit (Let Some Light In)" and Mikayla Monclova from Hoboken Charter School with her song "Misery's Company". Both third-place winners received $2,000 contracts.
- Online Vote Winner: McKenna Biggins, a ninth grader from Northern Valley Regional High School at Demarest, won the online vote with her song "Worth It".
The New Jersey Broadcasters Association (NJBA) and 95.9 WRAT sponsored the competition. On May 8, the 22 finalist songs were showcased in a virtual concert hosted by Jimmy Steal, Creative Services Director and PM Drive Host for WRAT. An esteemed panel of judges selected the winners, and Jimmy announced them live on air on WRAT at the concert's conclusion. The student musicians will share their songs and messages across the state over the upcoming year.
The winners have displayed incredible talent and shown a deep commitment to promoting healthy, drug-free lifestyles. Their messages have resonated within their local communities and the entire state, serving as a beacon of inspiration for all. PDFNJ congratulates them for their well-deserved success and expresses gratitude for their inspiring contributions to substance misuse prevention.
You can watch the NJSDD concert here: shoutdowndrugs.com
Read an interview with Jordan here: thesandpaper.net/articles/barnegat-senior-wins-shout-down-drugs-competition