The contest uses the topic of family to engage high school and middle school students in creative thinking through art.听 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.鈥澨� 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.
听
This year鈥檚 challenge to students was to illustrate the idea that families come in different shapes and sizes. Students were asked to depict what makes their parent(s) unique and how that has impacted their view of parenthood.听 This topic is relevant because while families may take many different forms, they all share common purpose and value.
鈥淭his year鈥檚 theme captured the wonderful diversity of New Jerseys鈥� families,鈥� said DHS Commissioner Jennifer Velez. 鈥淭he artwork was a clear demonstration of the students鈥� excitement to express their families鈥� unique identities. The talent represented by this year鈥檚 entries was simply amazing.鈥�
鈥淭he artwork submissions contained numerous illustrations of parents and their children from all walks of life,鈥� said Jeanette Page-Hawkins, Division of Family Development Director.听 鈥淲e are overjoyed to have students share images of their family dynamics.鈥�
Winners in the high school category:
鈥⑻鼺irst place, Artemis Tapliga, Wall High School
鈥⑻齋econd place, Gabrielle Kershaw, Paul VI High School
鈥⑻齌hird place, Diamond Jones-Vaughn, Piscataway Township High School
Winners in the middle school category:
鈥⑻鼺irst place, Lia Mann, Forrestdale School
鈥⑻齋econd place, Michaela VanDervelden, Schuyler-Colfax Middle School
鈥⑻齌hird place, Natalie Chung, Schuyler-Colfax Middle School
Each winner receives a U.S. Savings Bond, a plaque of achievement, and a pair of day passes to Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey.听 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 .
