(above) This year’s student finalists in the 7th Annual Palooza Contest: Leah Nott, Mira Nirula, Morgan Moloney, Emilie Scollo, Kevin Aby, Charles Gosda, Desra Sonnek-Schmelz, Zoe Schack, Esme McLaughlin, Isabella Arevalo-Lis, Eleanor Hume, Brody Toriello, and Jake Tannenbaum. Not pictured are Alexandria Brenner, Alexa Gonzalez, Riley Gasson and Amanda Rickert
7th Annual Palooza Contest Student Finalists
Submitted by Louise DeDea
The Westfield Municipal Alliance and the Westfield High School Dream Team recognized student finalists in the 7th Annual Palooza Contest on Tuesday, January 21 at the high school student center.
Finalists from the Westfield Public Schools and Holy Trinity School, grades 1-12, were recognized for their submissions of posters, poetry and public service announcements, depicting the theme, “Westfield, We Have Better Things to Do; Healthy Choices, Everyday Choices”.
This year’s finalists are: Leah Nott, Mira Nirula, Morgan Moloney, Emilie Scollo, Kevin Aby, Charles Gosda, Desra Sonnek-Schmelz, Zoe Schack, Esme McLaughlin, Isabella Arevalo-Lis, Eleanor Hume, Brody Toriello, Alexandria Brenner, Jake Tannenbaum, Alexa Gonzalez, Riley Gasson and Amanda Rickert.
The evening event was hosted by students from the WHS Dream Team and sponsored by the Westfield Municipal Alliance. As a token of appreciation for their hard work, the Albert Anthony Kayal Foundation funded a personal award for the first, second and third place finalists. In addition, the Matthew Thomas Toriello Memorial Fund made a donation on the finalists’ behalf to Imagine, A Center for Coping with Loss, and to the Westfield Rescue Squad.
The Palooza Contest begins each year in October during National Red Ribbon Week and entries are submitted before the end of November. The finalists are announced and celebrated during a ceremony each January in which family and other members of the community are invited. The winning posters, poetry, and PSAs are posted on the Westfield Municipal Alliance Facebook page at facebook.com/westfieldalliance.
The message of the WHS Dream Team, is “Confidence, Choices, Challenges, Changes.” The Dream Team promotes positive decision-making, healthy choices and creates programs that provide alternatives to underage drinking and drug use. The mission of the WHS Dream Team complements the mission of the Westfield Municipal Alliance in providing supplemental substance abuse prevention education in Westfield schools and to the Westfield community.
For more information, please visit westfieldnj.gov/wma or contact Louise DeDea at westfieldalliance@gmail.com or Lauren Hauser at lhauser@westfieldnjk12.org.
