FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  July 8, 2025

Contact: Lisa Batitto, news@drugfreenj.org

Kearny Middle School Students Win Statewide PSA Contest Promoting Substance Use Prevention

KEARNY, NJ—A team of six students from Lincoln Middle School in Kearny created a powerful public service announcement addressing the dangers of substance misuse, winning the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey's (PDFNJ) annual statewide Middle School PSA Challenge.

Melauric Arrue (8th grade), Fabio Burga Suejiro (7th grade), Josie Fernandez (7th grade), Leah Abarca (8th grade), Jillian Platero (7th grade), and Valentina Ugarte (8th grade) submitted their original PSA titled "He's Already Gone," which features a moving peer-to-peer message aimed at encouraging middle school students to make healthy, drug-free choices. The students developed their PSA under the guidance of teacher Erika Kliszus.

The annual challenge invites New Jersey students in grades 5 through 8 to create their own 30-second public service announcement video about the dangers of substance misuse. The contest highlights the effectiveness of peer-to-peer communication, enabling young people to resist peer pressure through messages that resonate with their age group.

The Lincoln Middle School students' winning entry was selected from submissions across the state and earned a $1,000 prize. The PSA can be viewed on the PDFNJ website at .drugfreenj.org/MSPSAwinners.

The winning PSA will also be featured on PDFNJ's social media platforms and used in statewide peer-to-peer substance use prevention campaigns, amplifying its message to youth audiences across New Jersey.

"It is truly inspiring to see the creativity and compassion these students brought to their project," said Angelo Valente, Executive Director of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey. "Their message delivers a strong and emotional reminder of what's at stake when it comes to substance use. Young people speaking directly to their peers can be one of the most effective tools in promoting prevention and building a healthier future."

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Best known for its statewide substance use prevention advertising campaign, the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey is a private not-for-profit coalition of professionals from the communications, corporate and government communities whose collective mission is to reduce demand for illicit drugs in New Jersey through media communication.  To date, more than $200 million in broadcast time and print space has been donated to the Partnership’s New Jersey campaign, making it the largest public service advertising campaign in New Jersey’s history. Since its inception, the Partnership has garnered 230 advertising and public relations awards from national, regional and statewide media organizations.