BARNEGAT, NJ — Online voting will determine whether Barnegat High School senior Riley Donlon will be the winner of this year's Your Song! Your Voice! Shout Down Drugs New Jersey anti-drug songwriting contest.

The statewide contest challenges students to write and record original songs of all genres that focus on messages of prevention.

Donlon’s song, “Hold On,” represents a powerful plea from someone already battling from loss urging another individual to choose life and seek help from drug misuse. Lyrics include, “I say this from the heart on behalf of all the hearts that love you I can’t stand here and watch you endure all that darkness and not hold out a hand to help.”

Donlon, 17, has been part of the BHS recording arts program since 2024, through which she has been working on writing and recording her own album. She also participates in the select choir program and took third place in the Voice of BHS competition last school year.

Since 2005, Your Song! Your Voice! Shout Down Drugs New Jersey has provided an online platform where students' impactful anti-substance use songs are voted on by community members. Students enter the competition by submitting their songs, instrumentals, performance videos, and typed lyrics. Staff from The Partnership for a Drug-Free New Jersey (PDFNJ) pick songs after a screening process to ensure they meet competition criteria. This year, 13 competitors, made up of individual artists and groups and representing seven counties, made it to the online voting round.

Songs are judged on prevention message and lyrics. Messages must be clear, and the song must inform peers about the dangers of substance misuse. Songs also are judged on originality, if they motivate and inspire peers to be substance-use free, and if they connect teens to the message of the dangers of substance use. The winner will be selected by combining total online votes with judges’ scores.

The winning artist or group will receive a $5,000 “music contract” with PDFNJ and perform its award-winning songs at the organization’s events throughout the year.

“Not only are students raising awareness for the important topic of drug misuse prevention, but they’re also doing it in a way that showcases their creativity,” said BHS recording arts teacher Samuel Salguero. “A lot of these songs are personal stories and competitions like this provide an important outlet.”

Donlon is not the first BHS student to compete with hopes of taking the title of champion. In 2020, BHS alum Shannon Harrington won first-place and in 2024, Jordon Ford took the same title.

“The Your Song! Your Voice! competition is a powerful reminder that young people are not only full of talent, but also deeply passionate about making a difference,” said Angelo M. Valente, Executive Director of PDFNJ. “Each of these students has crafted a personal and meaningful message about prevention, and we are honored to help amplify their voices across the state.”

“At just 17 years old, Riley has already shown incredible talent and dedication, and it’s been an absolute pleasure to work with her on her latest single and soon, her full album,” said Salguero. “I’d also like to extend our heartfelt thanks to Mr. Erich Wald, her vocal coach, whose guidance and mentorship have played a pivotal role in her artistic growth.”

Donlon’s album debut is set to be released in late May or early June through Spotify and Apple Music. She is a member of the National Honor Society, French Honor Society and Tri-M Music Honor Society. She is also a captain of the BHS dance team and the Dance Expressions Dance Company. She plans to attend Eastern University to study nursing and to dance with Eastern’s dance team.

To vote for Donlon, go to bit.ly/VoteRileyDonlon.

Online voting ends on May 6. The winner will be announced at the end of the virtual Prevention Concert held live on May 7 on 95.9-FM WRAT Radio and WRAT.com.

Your Song! Your Voice! Shout Down Drugs New Jersey, formerly known as New Jersey Shout Down Drugs competition, is supported by PDFNJ and is sponsored by the New Jersey Broadcasters Association and 95.9 WRA. For more information, go to ShoutDownDrugs.com.

Barnegat High School

Vote For Barnegat Student Competing In Statewide Anti-Drug Song Contest