Congratulations to 11th grader Amber Ramos, who combined her artistic talents with technology skills to design a poster that was recently selected as the Southern Region Winner in the Teens4Teens Mental Health PSA Contest. Amber designed her winning poster using ProCreate and Affinity, software programs that she learned to use this year in her high school “Information Technology” class taught by faculty member Rhapsody Hahn-Chaney.

“Amber is a very talented artist and she is certainly deserving of the spotlight for her work,” said Hahn-Chaney.  Amber’s poster, entitled “Together We Can Overcome the Darkness,” was one of eight winning student entries selected for recognition in the statewide contest held in May, which was Mental Health Awareness Month. The contest sponsors created a video to announce the winners on June 8 and posted the video on YouTube that features Amber’s poster and the other winning entries. Amber will also be receiving a $200 prize for her poster design

The contest was sponsored by the New Jersey Department of Heath, in partnership with The Center for Prevention and Counseling, Empower Somerset, the 2nd Floor Youth Helpline, and AtlantiCare Healthy Schools.  The goal of the Public Service Announcement (PSA) Contest was to promote mental wellness and support youth who may be going through a difficult time, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic’s long and short-term circumstances and effects.

Hahn-Chaney said she challenged Amber and her fellow classmates to enter the contest using the computer software programs they had learned to use during class. Amber said she created her poster on a tablet, working on the design during class and at home.  Three other students — Isaac Choi, Joseph Choi, and Daniel Kim — created posters that Hahn-Chaney also submitted into the contest and their posters are displayed below.

CLICK HERE to view the contest winners on YouTube that features Amber’s poster along with the other winning entries.