Haneen Ames, an 11th grader from Toms River, N.J., has been named the grand prizewinner in NAHMA’s annual AHMA Drug-Free Kids poster and art contest. The talented artist’s creation will appear on the cover of NAHMA’s 2024 calendar. Haneen, 16, also receives an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C., for a NAHMA Biannual Top Issues in Affordable Housing conference and a scholarship of $2,500 from the NAHMA Educational Foundation.

The poster contest is open to children and senior residents 55 years or older who live in a community of a NAHMA or a local AHMA member company, as well as residents with special needs who live in a permanent supportive housing community or Section 811 community of a NAHMA or a local AHMA member company.

The underlying message for the annual contest is always a drug-free theme. Still, the association wanted to open the door for more avenues of expression, so a subtheme is incorporated into the poster contest. The subtheme for this year is People Helping People: Promote Acts of Kindness.

Typically, the contest draws hundreds of participants nationwide. The artwork is divided into categories. For each grade category for children and the elderly and special needs levels, local AHMAs select up to three winning posters, which can consist of photographs, websites, computer art, or other media. The AHMA winners are then sent to NAHMA for consideration in the national contest.

The grade categories for children are based on the grade the contestants have completed by June 2023: kindergarten-first grade, second-third grade, fourth-sixth grade, seventh-ninth grade, and 10th-12th grade. Only students are eligible for the grand prize.

Regardless of the entry category, each national winner of the NAHMA contest receives a $1,000 educational scholarship from the NAHMA Educational Foundation. All winners are also featured in the 2024 NAHMA Drug-Free Kids Calendar.

Furthermore, participants in the annual art contests held by the local AHMAs are eligible to be selected as Regional AHMA Art Contest Honorable Mentions. Those chosen for this distinction are featured in a special calendar section and receive a $100 scholarship check.

The original grand prizewinning artwork will be sold in connection with the Educational Foundation’s fundraising gala on Oct. 25, with the proceeds supporting the foundation’s scholarship program.

Calendars go on sale in September. The calendar cost is $5.50, which is a Department of Housing and Urban Development and U.S. Department of Agriculture allowable project expense.

The following lists this year’s national program winners, with their ages at the time of submission, grade completed in June 2023, contest category, the community where they live, the management company, and name of the AHMA that submitted their artwork:

GRAND PRIZEWINNER

• Haneen Ames, 16; 11th Grade; Winteringham Village Apartments, Toms River, N.J.; The Michaels Organization; JAHMA

NATIONAL WINNERS

• Graling Arnold, 55; Seniors & Residents with Special Needs; Bedford Hill Apartments, Pittsburgh, Pa.; McCormack Baron Management Inc.; PAHMA
• Uriel Fordjour, 17; 11th Grade; Stratton Hill Park, Worcester, Mass.; Beacon Communities LLC; NEAHMA
• Tiffany Gunawan, 11; Fifth Grade; Market Mill Apartments, Lowell, Mass.; Peabody Properties Inc.; NEAHMA
• Ravnoor K. Heyer, 9; Third Grade; Los Robles Apartments, Union City, Calif.; EAH Housing; AHMA-NCH
• Mark Holup, 52; Seniors & Residents with Special Needs; Emanuel Village, Worcester, Mass.; Beacon Communities LLC; NEAHMA
• Kaya Lopez, 13; Seventh Grade; Council Groves Apartments, Missoula, Mont.; Tamarack Property Management Co.; Rocky Mountain Heartland AHMA
• Celena Mendoza, 18; 12th Grade; Village at McArdle Apartments, Corpus Christi, Texas; Prospera Housing Community Services; SWAHMA
• Lily Morway, 15; Ninth Grade; Stratton Hill Park Apartments, Worcester, Mass.; Beacon Communities LLC; NEAHMA
• Jamison Nwaise, 6; Kindergarten; Lowell Belvidere Housing, Lowell, Mass.; Peabody Properties Inc.; NEAHMA
• Skylar Nwaise, 11; Fifth Grade; Lowell Belvidere Housing, Lowell, Mass.; Peabody Properties Inc.; NEAHMA
• Mia Valentine, 8; Second Grade; Westview Valley Apartments, Greensboro, N.C.; Westminster Company; SAHMA
• Ashton Malik Williams, 7; First Grade; North Hill Manor Apartments, Meridian, Miss.; The Michaels Organization; SAHMA
• Robert Allan Williams, 86; Seniors & Residents with Special Needs; Bedford Green Apartments, Bedford, Mass.; Peabody Properties Inc.; NEAHMA

HONORABLE MENTIONS

• Lorri Becar, 55; Seniors & Residents with Special Needs; Winteringham Village Apartments, Toms River, N.J.; The Michaels Organization; JAHMA
• Anthony Keshishyan, 18; 12th Grade; The Gardens on Garfield, Glendale, Calif.; Thomas Safran & Associates; AHMA-PSW
• Nare Keshishyan, 12; Seventh Grade; The Gardens on Garfield, Glendale, Calif.; Thomas Safran & Associates; AHMA-PSW
• Lucy Lopez, 14; Eighth Grade; Council Groves Apartments, Missoula, Mont.; Tamarack Property Management Co.; Rocky Mountain Heartland AHMA

About NAHMA

NAHMA is the leading voice for the affordable housing management industry, promoting developing, managing and preserving quality affordable multifamily housing. NAHMA advocates for legislative and regulatory policy and provides affordable housing professionals with the knowledge to advance excellence in the communities they serve. NAHMA’s membership represents 75% of the affordable housing industry and includes its most distinguished multifamily owners and management companies. Visit www.nahma.org for more information.

About the NAHMA Educational Foundation

The NAHMA Educational Foundation is organized and operated exclusively as a Section 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Founded in October 1994, the NAHMA Educational Foundation works to assist residents of federally subsidized housing as they strive to enhance their lives, job opportunities and children’s futures. Its mission is also to enhance the livability and standing of communities managed by NAHMA member companies nationwide. For more information, visit www.nahma.org/about/educational-foundation.