MANALAPAN – The Manalapan-Englishtown Community Alliance to Prevent Alcoholism and Drug Abuse will sponsor its first high school video contest – “Substance Abuse – Prevention and Persuasion.”
The contest will raise awareness, with its primary goal being to prevent substance abuse by engaging youths and challenging them to create video messages with a preventive and/or
persuasive message, according to a press release.
The contest is now open and will run through March 31. All high school students from Manalapan and Englishtown, or students from other towns who attend Manalapan High School, are invited to participate in a video project contest.
Videos must communicate a message that informs, educates or in principle, dissuades fellow youths from using drugs or alcohol or vaping, according to the press release.
“Today’s youth culture is so tied into the various forms of social media, in particular, recording and viewing videos,” Manalapan Health Officer Dave Richardson said. “We are hoping to capitalize on this trend and empower our high school students to be communicators of our mission.”
“The alliance exists for a variety of reasons and our members are engaged because of different interests and experiences,” said Bob Scarpa, chairman of the alliance. “But we all share a passion to be as active as possible in our youths’ lives with the message of preventing abuse and addiction to drugs, alcohol and vaping.”
The judges will evaluate the entries on the following criteria: a clear and compelling message; memorable content and delivery; originality. Winners will be notified during the first week of May. The winner will receive $250 and two runner-ups will each receive $100.
All contestants must fill out an online entry form. All entries may be submitted via attachment to an email to [email protected] or via delivery of a flash drive to the Manalapan Health Department by March 31. Attachments files should be Youtube, Vimeo or Google Drive.
Videos must be no longer than 90 seconds in total length. For more information, contact the Manalapan Health Department at [email protected]