FREEHOLD – A Freehold Township High School student has won first place in the 2022 New Jersey Child Support Teen Media Contest.
This year, the contest celebrated the dreams and future achievements of Garden State youth through the support of family, friends and loved ones.
Olatomi Gabriel of Freehold Township High School was one of 12 New Jersey high school and middle school students who were honored for their winning entries.
“On behalf of the Department, I want to congratulate this year’s winners. Every year we are blown away by the talent of our young people and their ability to so artfully convey these important themes. Young people benefit from having a strong support system, and we are just so proud of all the students who shared their dreams and their familial stories with us,” Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman said.
Students across the state submitted hand-drawn or written portrayals about the dreams teens have and how their loved ones are helping them achieve their goals. The winners are chosen based on their interpretation of the year’s theme: “What is your dream and how are your parents/loved ones helping you get there?”
Gabriel won first place in the Hand-Drawn/Hand-Painted category for high schools. In the winning artwork, Gabriel draws kind, encouraging and uplifting messages received from mom and dad. The words “You Are Deserving” are drawn in a bold blue color, standing out on the page.
“We are continually impressed by the quality of the works submitted and the thoughtfulness that goes into creating them. I want to congratulate the winners and their families for sharing their talent with us and helping us spread the message that children, regardless of what their family structure may look like, deserve to be loved and supported by the adults in their lives,” said Deputy Commissioner Elisa Neira.
“This contest is one of the ways that we regularly bring attention to New Jersey’s Child Support program,” said Assistant Commissioner Natasha Johnson, who oversees the Department’s Division of Family Development. “The enduring slogan for New Jersey’s Child Support program is ‘Child Support. It’s more than just money,’ and we encourage our young contest participants to think about their support system and the important role their parents and loved ones play in their everyday lives.”
Not only will Gabriel’s work be featured in the 2023 Child Support calendar, but the winning entries received congratulatory plaques and prizes acknowledging their achievement at an awards event at the New Jersey State House.
All winning pieces can be viewed on the contest website at NJTeenMedia.org.
For more information about the New Jersey Child Support program, call 1-877-NJKIDS1 or visit njchildsupport.org.
