High school songwriters: enter this contest for a great cause

To support a drug-free lifestyle during National Red Ribbon Week, the Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey is inviting high school students to join their 20th annual "Your Song! Your Voice! Shout Down Drugs New Jersey" competition.

This contest is all about music and substance use prevention, and it's open to students of all music styles.

The contest was formerly known as "New Jersey Shout Down Drugs," but its new name is a better fit. The competition challenges teens to create their own unique songs, no matter if it's hip-hop, rock, or any other genre.

The deadline to submit your song is March 24, 2024, and there are prizes for the top three entries.

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More about the Shout Down Drugs New Jersey competition

The songs from the contestants will be featured on ShoutDownDrugs.com, and everyone can listen and vote for their favorites online. That’s where you can find out about entering, too.

The stakes are big, with the top winners receiving contracts worth $5,000, $3,000, and $2,000 to perform their songs at various events during the year.

I spent a good amount of time listening to a lot of last year's contestants to get an idea of what kind of music these kids can create. I was blown away by the talent. You will be too.

Here’s where you can hear last year's contestants

If you’re a singer or songwriter, you’ll want to get in on this great contest for a great cause.

If you're a high school student who loves music and wants to promote a healthy, drug-free lifestyle, you’ll want to enter for this unique opportunity to use your talent to fight drug abuse. It’s a great cause and a great way to use your talent for a meaningful cause.

Competitive NJ school board races fall 2023

In time for November elections, 1,804 board of education candidates have been registered around New Jersey, for a total of 1,487 open seats.

These are not evenly spread — some boards have zero candidates for an available spot, while others have more than three candidates vying for each seat. The following competitive races are based on data from the New Jersey School Board Association.

Gallery Credit: Erin Vogt

These are the best NJ high schools for sports

Stacker put together a list of the best high schools for sports across New Jersey — using data from Niche that included sports championships, family surveys, student enrollment, athletic participation rate and sports options. Here's the top 25.

Gallery Credit: Stacker

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