The contest uses the topic of parenting to engage high school and middle school students in creative thinking through art.聽 Students, who participate through their schools鈥� art classes, create original hand-drawn artwork to complement the Department鈥檚 ongoing advertising and outreach campaign: 鈥淐hild Support. It鈥檚 more than just money.鈥澛� Winners are selected based upon their interpretation of the year鈥檚 theme and their work is included in a calendar that is compiled and distributed every year.
For this year鈥檚 contest, the challenge to students was to illustrate the ways in which their parent(s) have instilled the importance of community service and being a well-rounded student.聽 The topic is relevant because of communities鈥� recent outreach to friends and neighbors who have been impacted by the economy and/or effects of natural disasters.
鈥淭his year鈥檚 theme was especially meaningful and timely for us,鈥� said DHS Commissioner Jennifer Velez. 鈥淥ur department works with individuals and families who are economically insecure on a daily basis. In addition, we鈥檝e been working closely with residents who were displaced or otherwise impacted by Superstorm Sandy. We recognize the importance of community service in supporting people in need.鈥澛�
鈥淭he artwork submissions contained numerous illustrations of parents and their children participating in local events,鈥� said Jeanette Page-Hawkins, Division of Family Development director.聽 鈥淲ith this year鈥檚 theme, we gave young people the opportunity to think about where community service fits into family life and how parents鈥� values are reflected in the activities they choose to involve their families in.鈥�
Winner in the high school category:
鈥⒙犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅� First place, Elizabeth McLaughlin, Piscataway High School
鈥⒙犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅� Second place, Christa Pieper, Piscataway High School
鈥⒙犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅� Third place, Alexandra Pietsch, Ewing High School
Winners in the middle school category:
鈥⒙犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅� First place, Carrie Zhang, John H. Walker Middle School, Nutley
鈥⒙犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅� Second place, Timothy Scherer, Monroe Township Middle School
鈥⒙犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅犅� Third place, Sophia Jeon, Schuyler-Colfax Middle School, Wayne
Each winner received a U.S. Savings Bond, a plaque of achievement and a pair of day passes to Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey.聽 All winning entries will be displayed in the Statehouse Annex Tunnel from May 20th through 24th.
For more information about this program or the New Jersey Office of Child Support Services, please call 1-877-NJKIDS1 or log onto .
