For Immediate Release:
April 22, 2010
Students recognized for fair housing artwork
WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ – Twenty-five sixth graders received U.S. savings bonds on Sunday, April 18 at a luncheon held at Branches to recognize their award-winning artwork in the 21st annual Fair Housing Poster Contest, sponsored by Monmouth County's Fair Housing Board and the Monmouth County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
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. All winners received a commemorative plaque as well.
The grand-prize winner was John Blakeslee of St. Catharine's School, Spring Lake, whose drawing depicted a home topped by the scales of justice and entitled "Keep it balanced, keep it fair, everybody deserves their share." Freeholder Director Lillian G. Burry and Diane Johnson, regional director of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Newark, presented his award.
"Using art to express the importance of fair and affordable housing in Monmouth County is a great educational tool," said Burry, who was joined by Freeholders John D'Amico, Amy A. Mallet and John P. Curley at the awards presentation. "We are all impressed by the creativity used to convey information about the issue of fair housing here in Monmouth County."
"Making sure housing remains available and affordable in Monmouth County is an issue that demands our attention," said D'Amico, who is liaison to the county's Fair Housing Board. "I'm glad to see our children are aware of this issue and that they turned that awareness into outstanding artwork."
The artwork was judged by the county's community development staff and representatives from HUD, which narrowed the field to 50. The county's Fair Housing Board selected the 25 winners.
"All 402 young artists learned something about the fair housing issue through this exercise," Mallet said. "This annual school-based project helps promote nondiscrimination and assists us as we work to ensure fair and equal housing opportunities for all."
Brenda Edmundson, supervisor of HUD's Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity Office in Newark and members of the county's volunteer Fair Housing Board, also attended the luncheon and gave brief remarks in celebration of National Fair Housing Month.
All of the winning artwork will be featured in a 2011 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 mention winners will be featured on a one page.
Each participating school also received a plaque acknowledging its students' accomplishments. Students from five schools were selected as winners: Asbury Park Middle School, Long Branch Middle School, St. Jerome School in West Long Branch, St. Veronica School in Howell and St. Rose of Lima School in Freehold.
The county's Fair Housing Office is division of the Monmouth County Planning Board that works to educate residents about diversity and eradicate discrimination in housing.
For more information or assistance with fair housing issues, residents can contact the Monmouth County Planning Board's Fair Housing Office at 732-431-7490 or by email at
Mary.Gilmore@co.monmouth.nj.us.
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* A complete list of the winners follows:
2010 Monmouth County Fair Housing Art Contest Winners
| Grand Prize Winner: |
$500 U.S. Savings Bond |
| John Blakeslee St. |
Catharine's School |
| |
| First-Prize Winners: |
$200 U.S. Savings Bonds |
| Christopher Stewart |
St. Jerome School |
| Jillian Keshecki |
St. Veronica School |
| Danielle Lippiello |
St. Jerome School |
| Massimo Agresti |
St. Jerome School |
| Cameron Cranley |
St Catharine School |
| Shayne McNally |
St Catharine School |
| Christina Leanza |
St. Jerome School |
| Caitlyn Cushman- |
St. Veronica School |
| Theresa Osborne |
St. Rose of Lima School |
| Christopher Romero |
Long Branch Middle School |
| Roxanne Quow |
St. Jerome School |
| Marisa Ventura |
St Catharine School |
| |
| Honorable Mention Winners: |
$100 US Savings Bond |
| Cassidy Marquette |
St. Jerome School |
| Rosa Ramirez |
Asbury Park Middle School |
| Clare Peropat |
St Catharine School |
| Victoria Marronaro |
St. Veronica School |
| Caroline Holtz |
St. Jerome School |
| Patricia Lowney |
St. Jerome School |
| Teresa Dinh |
St. Rose of Lima School |
| Emma Capro |
St. Jerome School |
| Samantha Keefe |
St Catharine School |
| Tyler Michaels |
St. Jerome School |
| Alyssa Luma |
St. Jerome School |
| Diamond Davis |
St. Rose of Lima School |
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