The Center for Prevention & Counseling’s 2026 Alcohol Awareness Month Contest invited young people in Sussex County to reflect on a simple but important theme, “Achieving My Dreams, Alcohol-Free.” The contest asked students to think about their goals, the challenges they may face, and the healthy habits and choices that can help them stay on track. Entries were accepted in three formats, poster art, writing, and positive-message video, with a deadline of 10 March.

The scale of participation makes the initiative especially striking. According to the official winners page, the contest drew more than 110 submissions from 14 schools, resulting in 9 winners and 10 runner-ups. That gives the project a strong community dimension, showing that alcohol awareness can be framed not only around risks and harms, but also around ambition, creativity, and the idea of building a healthy future.

The top video award went to Evie Roller of Sussex County Technical School, a Grade 10 student whose winning entry was praised for its honesty and powerful storytelling. The organizers said the video showed how choices can shape dreams, focus, and future direction, while also underlining that staying alcohol-free can help young people keep moving toward their goals. On the official winners page, Evie is listed as the video winner, alongside radio winners Victoria Shikata, Brooklynn Nunes, and Naia Chughatta, as well as five poster winners from different schools and grade levels across the county.

What stands out about this contest is that it gives young people the chance to speak in their own voice about alcohol-free living, and then gives those messages real visibility. The top posters were featured online, the top essays were recorded and broadcast on local radio, and the winning video was shared through social media and digital ads, with selected entries also displayed at the Town Hall Ceremony. In that sense, the contest is not just a school activity for Alcohol Awareness Month, but a public platform that turns youth perspectives into part of the wider community conversation.

Find more from Center For Prevention NJ (USA, April 2026)