POINT PLEASANT BEACH — More than 4,000 fourth-grade students from across New Jersey drew their idea of a fun time as part of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey’s Design a Fourth Grade Folder contest this year, but just 32 earned recognition at the program award ceremony on May 7 at Jenkinson’s Boardwalk.

Allison Yodis of Eleanor Rush Intermediate School in Cinnaminson earned the distinction as one of two students declared co-winners of the contest who will have their designs appear on the folder distributed annually to thousands of fourth graders throughout the state.

Yodis earned the contest’s highest honor for her technology-themed design titled, “Drugs are not an app to play!” Her artwork will be displayed on 40,000 folders distributed to fourth grade students in September.

Thirty-two fourth grade student finalists received medals for their creative peer-to-peer substance use prevention artwork following the theme “Fun Things to Do Instead Of Doing Drugs.”

Five of this year’s finalists attend schools in Burlington County including: Olivia Golla and Allison Yodis of Eleanor Rush Intermediate School in Cinnaminson and Naomi Harris, Myana McCaskill and Isabella Smith of Twin Hills Elementary School in Willingboro.

“These young students from around the state are setting tremendous examples for their peers to follow,” said Angelo Valente, executive director of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey. “With their creative artwork, they are delivering strong messages to other students about enjoying a healthy, drug-free lives.”

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