The contest uses the topic of family to engage high school and middle school students in creative thinking through art.听 Students, under the guidance of their school鈥檚 art faculty, create original handmade 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 chosen based upon their interpretation of the year鈥檚 theme, with the winning artwork and a select number of 鈥渉onorable mention鈥� pieces included in the annual Child Support calendar published every year. Last year鈥檚 winners and honorable mentions can be viewed online.
鈥淭his year鈥檚 theme captured the diversity of family structures in New Jersey, while honoring the contributions they make through community service to their neighbors and their world,鈥� said Acting DHS Commissioner Elizabeth Connolly. 鈥淭his year鈥檚 artwork clearly shows the enthusiasm of the students to show how they can make positive contributions to society.鈥�
The challenge to students was to illustrate the way in which 鈥渇amilies are greater than the sum of their parts.鈥� This theme encourages students to show how families can make an impact on their neighborhood, their community and their world, regardless of the traditional or non-traditional family structure.
鈥淲e are amazed, year after year, on how the students internalize the annual theme and create some beautiful artwork. Each of the hundreds of entries we receive each year contain unique illustrations of parents and their children, from all walks of life,鈥� said Natasha Johnson, Division of Family Development Director.
Winners in the high school category:
鈥⑻鼺irst place, Priyanka Malholtra, Piscataway Township High School
鈥⑻齋econd place, Samra Shakeel, Union County Vocational-Technical High School (Scotch Plains)
鈥⑻齌hird place, Anthony Troiano, Union County Vocational-Technical High School (Scotch Plains)
Winners in the middle school category:
鈥⑻鼺irst place, Sharina Kuo, Carusi Middle School (Cherry Hill)
鈥⑻齋econd place, Elizabeth Kamara, Academy 1 Middle School (Jersey City)
鈥⑻齌hird place, Rashel Caraballo, Academy 1 Middle School (Jersey City)
In addition to having their artwork featured in the 2016 calendar, each winner receives a plaque of achievement, an American Express gift card, 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 18th through 22nd.
For more information about this program or the New Jersey Office of Child Support Services, please call 1-877-NJKIDS1 or go to .
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