3 Winners Chosen In Juneteenth Student Design Contest

SCOTCH PLAINS/FANWOOD, NJ —Two Scotch Plains-Fanwood students and one from Summit were chosen by Social Justice Matters, Inc.(SJM) for its Juneteenth celebration this Saturday.

The winners of the county-wide design contest are Meghna Iyer, Grade 5, Terrill Middle School, for the cover of SJM’s commemorative ad journal; Jesus Perez, Grade 3, School One Elementary School, for the front of the event’s T-shirt; and Mync Perkins, Grade 3, Summit, for the event’s drawstring, gift-bag design.

In addition, Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School art teacher Jeff Drylewicz designed SJM’s official Juneteenth logo. It is featured in the commemorative ad journal and on SJM’s event banner, the back of the event’s T-shirt and the souvenir golf balls that will be for sale at the event.

The students' designs reflect this year's SJM Juneteenth theme – "Roots and Wings: The Art and Tradition of Storytelling and the Black Experience".

The student winners will receive a $25 gift card along with the items they designed. All contest participants' artwork is featured in the commemorative ad journal and will be on display at the Juneteenth event at Shady Rest Clubhouse at Scotch Hills Country Club. All the participants will be recognized at the Juneteenth dedication ceremony at 4:30 p.m. on Saturday.

"We thank all the participants for sharing their talents for this important event. And it is clear from all the submissions that a lot of hard work and thought went into the designs," said Tashira Wheeler, chair of SJM’s Juneteenth 2021 Committee.

SJM, in partnership with the towns of Scotch Plains and Fanwood, is celebrating Juneteenth with a series of events from 2:30 to 8:30 p.m., including music, a one-act play, poetry, mini golf and putting instruction for children, the movie "Harriet," a story stroll and a reading by an award-winning author, and tours of the Shady Rest Clubhouse at Scotch Hills Country Club, the nation's first Black-owned country club.

For the schedule, locations and registration information, visit: spfjuneteenth.com or socialjusticematters.org.

Social Justice Matters of Scotch Plains/Fanwood is a 12-year-old, grassroots nonprofit organization committed to active inquiry into matters of race and creation of equitable communities. SJM serves as a resource for community concerns, and facilitates meaningful discussions and action about race.