Greenbelt Lions Club - Recent Projects 006

GREENBELT LIONS CLUB Holds Peace Poster Contest for 2002-2003

(Greenbelt, Maryland) -- Since 1988, Lions clubs worldwide have encouraged young people to express their feelings about world peace in a visual and creative way. It has been estimated that more than two million children from 72 countries have participated in this contest over the past 14 years. This participation has grown steadily each year since the contest began and so has the positive feedback from Lions, teachers and children. The theme for the 2002-03 Lions International Peace Poster Contest was "Dream of Peace".

This is the sixth year that the Greenbelt Lions Club has participated in this contest. Lions Clubs in many parts of the world agree that this contest can be used as a tool to help people, young and old, reflect on the importance of world peace and their feelings about the subject. The club sponsored groups at St Hugh's, Thomas Pullen Arts Magnet School, Greenbelt Middle School, Eisenhower Middle School, Glenarden Woods Elementary, and for the first time, also sponsored a Homeschooler's Group. The local first place winners were: Elizabeth Hammett, (Homeschooler's Group), Shaine Siegel (Thomas Pullen), Lisbeth Fuentes (Greenbelt Middle School), Kimberly Barasch, Vincent Scalco, and Mayra Garcia (Eisenhower Middle) and Sarah Choi and Tomara Nixon (Glenarden Woods). Each first place winner received a certificate and $25 in prize money.

Posters go through several levels of judging, including club, district, multiple district, and international. At each level, the posters are judged on originality, artistic merit, and expression of theme. Hammett's poster was not only judged best in the Homeschooler's Group at the local, club level, but went on to place 2nd (among all first place entries) at the District 22-C level.

Eventually, one grand prize winner and 23 merit award winners are chosen during the final international judging. The 23 merit award winners each receive US$500 (or local equivalent) and a framed certificate. One grand prize winner receives a trip to Lions Day with the United Nations in New York City), receives $2,500 (or local equivalent) in prize money, and an engraved commemorative plaque.

After the judging, the 24 posters are displayed at children's museums and attractions around the United States. Past grand prize winners have come from Guadeloupe, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Lebanon, Martinique, Peru, Philippines, Republic of South Africa, Turkey, and the United States. Some of these children have never seen real peace. With the help of Lions, and projects like the Peace Poster Contest, maybe someday they will.

Whether you are involved with a youth group, home school group, or are a Greenbelt student attending a public or private school, this contest is open to you. It only requires that a local Lions club sponsor you. If you would like more information on how to become sponsored by the Greenbelt Lions Club to participate in this annual contest, please send an email to the Greenbelt Lions at GreenbeltLions@hotmail.com with your contact information. The local portion of the contest is typically held during October and November of each year.

LOCAL WINNERS

Elizabeth Hammett & Shaine Siegel - 1st Place

DISTRICT WINNER

Elizabeth Hammett - 2nd Place

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