| TRENTON – The Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) yesterday honored the winners from its annual “Proms and Alcohol Don’t Mix” public service announcement contest at the State Museum.
The 30-second commercial was written by Robbinsville High School students Abby Schneider, Ciera Valyo, Diana Rackowski, Krystina Layton, Bruce Sapp and Caleigh McKeown. The PSA will run throughout the spring prom season on cable and local television stations throughout New Jersey and will be posted on YouTube and on the Division’s web site. Assistant Attorney General Christopher Iu and ABC Director Michael Halfacre lauded the winners and the other student teams who attended dinner.
“Every year we receive innovative and creative ideas for this contest and this year was no different,” Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control Director Michael Halfacre said. “Our winner developed a unique way of communicating to their peers in a message that is compelling and engaging and delivers the point that if you’re under the age of 21, you are too young to drink.”
The consequences of mixing alcohol with proms and graduation festivities can include emotional and legal ramifications, Halfacre said. Possession of alcohol while under the legal age is a disorderly person’s offense, and penalties could include fines of at least $500 as well as a six-month suspension of a driver’s license.
The winners’ script was judged best among the nearly 50 submissions in January by a panel comprised of senior ABC staff, media specialists and teen substance abuse advocates. A production team from Rutgers University went on-site to Word Center Printing in Hamilton later that month to shoot the spot.
The contest, running for its seventh year, is funded by the Division of Highway Traffic Safety.
To view the PSA, visit the ABC’s web site at www.nj.gov/oag/abc/annual-psa-contest.html
Others honored last night included:
1st Runner Up -
North Brunswick Township High School, North Brunswick
Matt Arcure, Jennelle Smoot and Vani Wacher
2nd Runner Up-
Cherry Hill High School West
Max Matez and Edward Dunn
Honorable Mention
Hillside High School, Hillside
Elijah Johnson, Sonia Moreira, Tirrell Mixson, Emily Noblecilla and Esterlin Lantigua
Henry Snyder High School, Jersey City
Uvash Seeraj, Quadesha Branch and Christian Balbutin
North Brunswick Township High School, North Brunswick
Morgan Comunale
Central Regional High School, Bayville
Nick Castrovilly and Austin Steinbrick
Pequannock Township High School, Pompton Plains
Dan Ulrich and Dan Ryan
Henry Hudson Regional School, Highlands
Rich Knochel and Michael Giglio
Marlboro High School, Marlboro
Carmine Gallo
Cherry Hill High School East, Cherry Hill
Damian Stuchko
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