Winners Announced for Ninth Annual Adolescent Immunization Awareness Contest

The Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey, in collaboration with the New Jersey Department of Health, today announced the winners for the ninth annual Protect Me With 3+ adolescent immunization awareness poster and video contest.

The winners and finalists in each category were honored during a virtual awards ceremony on May 12, 2021. The top three winners in the poster and video categories will receive prizes and the opportunity for their artistic creations to be distributed during statewide immunization awareness activities.

Middle School Poster Contest Winners:

1st place: Srujana Akella from Woodrow Wilson Middle School
2nd place: Nicole Garcia from Franklin Elementary School
3rd place: Melody Buccieri from Glen Meadows Middle School

High School Poster Contest Winners:

1st place: Sanika Godbole from John P. Stevens High School
2nd place: Meghana Akella from John P. Stevens High School
3rd place: Ana Fuentes from Henry Hudson Regional

High School Video Contest Winners:

1st place: Chloe Wu from Marlboro High School
2nd place: Anjali Fernandes from Livingston High School
3rd place: Anna Drudy from Academy of Allied Health and Science

Teachers and schools with the most eligible classroom submissions in each category were also acknowledged during the virtual awards ceremony. The winning teachers and schools include:

• Lisa Hirkaler ? Glen Meadows Middle School ? Middle School Poster Category

• Clare Ng ? Marine Academy of Science & Technology ? High School Poster Category

• William Werntz ? Marlboro High School ? High School Video Category

The Protect Me With 3+ contest raises awareness about the importance of adolescent immunizations to protect against tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis (Tdap), human papillomavirus (HPV), meningococcal conjugate, and influenza (flu).

This year, the contest received poster and video entries from middle school and high school students across the state. The winning creations can be viewed at http://protectmewith3.com/winners.

"As the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrates, vaccines are critical to preventing diseases, keeping our communities healthy, and saving lives. The Protect Me With 3+ campaign engages students to share their creativity as advocates for public health," stated Mariekarl Vilceus-Talty, President and CEO of the Partnership for Maternal and Child Health of Northern New Jersey. "I was amazed by the students' artistic expression and encouraged by the high number of submissions for this year's contest. We congratulate this year's winners and thank all of the students and teachers who make this program a success."

"We greatly appreciate all of the students and teachers who participated in the Protect Me with 3+ contest," said Dr. Tina Tan, State Epidemiologist and Assistant Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health. "The Department of Health is grateful to have the opportunity to educate students on the importance of adolescent immunization through a poster and video contest that allows students to be as creative as possible. We are looking forward to what next year's contest brings!"

New Jersey students in grades 5-8 were eligible to submit posters, and students in grades 9-12 were eligible to submit posters or videos. The public voted for their favorite entries every day from March 22nd through April 11th, 2021.