Local student wins statewide poster contest, another receives honorable mention

WAKEFIELD — Six students from across the state have been chosen as the top winners for this year’s Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY) poster project.

Since 2009, MPY has hosted the poster project to engage students on important topics and provide a platform to hear their voices. The posters will be shared with the MPY member schools throughout the state to give students an opportunity to hear from on their peers on issues of health and safety.

This year’s theme is “RESPECTfully”, focused on promoting healthy relationships in order to increase awareness about what constitutes a healthy relationship, highlight the need for respect in relationships, and identify escalating behaviors that may lead to unhealthy and unsafe relationships.

The project is held in partnership with the Executive Office of Health and Human Services and the Massachusetts State Legislature. The theme is chosen based on the initiative from the Governor’s Office.

“Each year, I’m incredibly impressed by the submissions we receive, and the thought and details students put into their designs,” Executive Director Daniels said. “This program serves as a great way to showcase students’ creativity and allow them to spread awareness among their peers on different issues. Thank you to all who participated.”

The project included three divisions: Elementary, Middle School and High School. More than 200 posters were submitted for the competition, and a winner and honorable mention were chosen for each division.

The winners were:

“Respect is a Gift that Should be Shared” by Gabrielle Manadee, a sixth grader from Johnson School in Nahant.
“Love is Love” by Ly Nguyen, a fifth grader from Ferryway Middle School in Malden
“Respect Each Other” by Jack Labossier, of Freetown, and a junior from Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical School in Rochester.

The honorable mentions were:
“Respect Others” by Avery Miller, a fifth grader from Ambrose Elementary School in Winchester.
“Hand in Hand” by Isabella Jardin, a seventh grader from Ottoson Middle School in Arlington.
“Know the Warning Signs” by Sabrina Stone, of Freetown, and a junior from Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School.

Recognitions will be made at school committee meetings and student assemblies for the winners and students receiving honorable mentions in their specific communities.

The team of judges who picked the winners included school administrators, police chiefs, art teachers, community prevention professions, school resource officers (SRO) and middle school students.

MPY’s Public Service Announcement (PSA) Project is underway with the same theme. Any student who attends schools that belong to MPY is eligible to enter. Videos must be original and be between 30 and 60 seconds long and each PSA must have a title.

The deadline for PSA entries is April 1, 2020.