Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan Honors Four High School Students
WOBURN – Four Middlesex County high school students were honored today by Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, Inc. as the winners of the 2013-2014 Poster Project.
The students designed and submitted original posters under the theme “CommUnityInvolves You,” an effort to encourage students to be engaged and active members of their school and larger community.
More than 100 posters from 131 students across Middlesex County were submitted.
The winner and three honorable mentions were selected by a panel of judges that included Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and Middlesex Partnerships for Youth staff, art teachers, police officers, and school administrators.
“I am continually impressed by the work of Middlesex County students when we solicit entries for our poster and PSA projects,” District Attorney Ryan said. “The quality of the work is amazing and the messages are engaging, and creative. Students communicating directly with their peers is one of the best preventative and intervention tools to affect change. Whether the message is to improve school culture, combat bullying, end substance abuse or address violence bringing students into that conversation is an effective way to motivate and change the behavior of all students.”
The winning poster will be printed and distributed to every middle and high school in Middlesex County. It will also be featured at MPY programs and events as well as on the websites for the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, Inc.
The winners are:
Overall Winner:
“CommUnity Involves You,” by Melissa Medina, of Lowell, a student at Greater Lowell Technical High School.
Honorable Mention:
“Involved,” by Danielle Marcinkewich, of Tyngsboro, a student at Nashoba Valley Technical High School
“One Makes a Difference,” by Eriberto Ruiz, Jr., of Lowell, a student at Greater Lowell Technical High School
“Volunteer for Others and You,” by Elizabeth Medeiros, of Tewksbury, a student at Shawsheen Valley Technical High School
The four students were honored today at a reception hosted by District Attorney Ryan and Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, Inc. at the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office in Woburn.
In addition to the poster project, the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office and its non-profit partner Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, Inc. also sponsors an annual video PSA project. Students will submit 30-60 second public service announcements that fit the theme “CommUnity Involves You.” A winner is expected to be announced in June.
Middlesex Partnerships for Youth, Inc. (MPY) is a non-profit organization which provides prevention and intervention resources and training to Middlesex school districts and communities. District Attorney Ryan is the Chair of the MPY Board of Directors. Through the efforts of District Attorney Ryan and MPY, educators, parents, and students can regularly engage in collaborative trainings with law enforcement, social services, and community-based organizations as well as share the latest information and resources. Such interactions provide the foundation for creating solution-oriented, community-based, multi-disciplinary approaches to addressing youth violence, substance abuse, child abuse and neglect, hate crimes, and harassment across Middlesex County. For more information on prevention and intervention programs visit http://middlesexda.com/ and www.middlesexpartnershipsforyouth.org.
Middlesex County is the largest county in Massachusetts and one of the largest counties in the country with 54 cities and towns and 26 colleges in urban, suburban, and rural areas, comprising over one quarter of the population of Massachusetts. The Middlesex District Attorney’s Office has offices throughout the county, including in Ayer, Cambridge, Concord, Framingham, Lowell, Malden, Marlborough, Newton, Somerville, Waltham and Woburn.