Tuesday, September 15, 2026 · Serving all of Hudson County since March 2011Kearny Middle School Students Win Statewide PSA Contest Promoting Substance Abuse Prevention
Six students from the Lincoln Middle School in Kearny, who created a powerful public service announcement addressing the dangers of substance misuse, have won the Partnership for a Drug-Free New…
Six students from the Lincoln Middle School in Kearny, who created a powerful public service announcement addressing the dangers of substance misuse, have won the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey’s (PDFNJ) annual statewide Middle School PSA Challenge.
a press release from PDFNJ states that 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 PSA 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.
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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.
Angelo Valente, the Executive Director of the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey remarked, “It is truly inspiring to see the creativity and compassion these students brought to their project. 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.”
Congratulations to the winning students and their school.