FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 8, 2009
Fair Housing poster winners announced
Drawings help students focus on this important issue
FREEHOLD – Twenty-five sixth graders received U.S. savings bonds recently in recognition of their award-winning artwork in the annual Fair Housing Poster Contest, sponsored by Monmouth County’s Fair Housing Board and the Board of Chosen Freeholders.
Prizes were awarded April 26 at a luncheon held at Branches in West Long Branch. The 25 winners were selected from more than 400 entries. There was one grand-prize winner, who was awarded a $500 U.S. savings bond; 12 first-prize winners, each of whom was awarded a $200 U.S. savings bond, and 12 others who received honorable mention and a $100 U.S. savings bond.
The grand-prize winner was Zachary Tretier of St. Rose of Lima Catholic School, Freehold, whose drawing depicted a news boy hawking a newspaper with a headline proclaiming “Fair Housing Now for ALL!”
“Using art to express the issue of fair and affordable housing in Monmouth County is innovative and a great educational tool,” said Freeholder Director Barbara J. McMorrow, who assisted Freeholder Deputy Director John D’Amico and Freeholder Amy A. Mallet with the awards presentation. “I am extremely pleased to see such magnificent artwork addressing the issue of fair housing in such a creative way.”
“It was a real pleasure seeing the outstanding artwork this talented group of young people produced,” said D’Amico, liaison to the county’s Fair Housing Board. “Making sure housing remains available and affordable in Monmouth County is an issue that demands our attention, and I’m glad to see our children are aware of it.”
The artwork was judged by the county’s community development staff and also representatives from the Newark office of the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development, which narrowed the field down to 50. The county’s Fair Housing Board selected the 25 winners.
“All 426 young artists learned something about the fair housing issue,” said Freeholder Mallet. “This annual school-based project helps promote non-discrimination and assists us as we work to ensure fair and equal housing opportunities for all.”
All of the artwork will be featured in a 2010 calendar honoring National Fair Housing Month, which is April of each year. The grand-prize artwork will adorn the cover; each of first-place winners’ artwork will be paired with a different month, and the honorable mentions winners will be featured on a one page.
Freeholder Director Barbara J. McMorrow congratulates the 2009 Monmouth County Fair Housing Art Contest Grand Prize Winner Zachary Tretier of St. Rose of Lima Catholic School, Freehold, whose drawing depicted a news boy hawking a newspaper with a headline proclaiming "Fair Housing Now for ALL!"
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* A complete list of the winners follows:
2009 Monmouth County Fair Housing Art Contest Winners
Grand Prize Winner: $500 U.S. Savings Bond
Zachary Tretier, St. Rose of Lima Catholic School, Freehold
First-Prize Winners: $200 U.S. Savings Bonds
Contestant School Town
Bradley Mitchell, Cedar Drive Middle School, Colts Neck
Corey Belforti, Cedar Drive Middle School, Colts Neck
Daniela Flores, Belmar Elementary School, Belmar
Anna McComb, Howell Township Middle School, Howell
Keoni Nguyen, St. Veronica Catholic School, Howell
Zachary Piatkowski, Long Branch Middle School, Long Branch
Samantha Rivas, Long Branch Middle School, Long Branch
Jack Ruiz, St. Jerome Catholic School, Long Branch
Nicole Sivetz , St. Veronica Catholic School, Howell
Qualeasha Wood, Long Branch Middle School, Long Branch
Erin Woods, Cedar Drive Middle School, Colts Neck
Fiona Zasowski, Cedar Drive Middle School, Colts Neck
Honorable Mention Winners: $100 US Savings Bond
Contestant School Town
Alexander Alfier, St. Jerome Catholic School, Long Branch
Cody Baldwin, Belmar Elementary School, Belmar
Cara Bieber, Cedar Drive Middle School, Colts Neck
Brandon Boyle, St. Veronica Catholic School, Howell
Amanda Courtney, Sycamore Drive School, Hazlet
Brianna Fortino, St. Rose of Lima Catholic School, Freehold
Jovanni Gomez , Long Branch Middle School, Long Branch
Matt LaPorte, St. Joseph Catholic School, Matawan
Danielle Murphy, Howell Township Middle School, Howell
Dominick Napoli, St. Veronica Catholic School, Howell
Alex Oleck, St. Veronica Catholic School, Howell
Dominique Raschella, St. Rose of Lima Catholic School, Freehold
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