Osceola Lions Club members met with Clarke Elementary Art Instructor Sarah Flaherty and three of her sixth-grade students at Clarke Elementary School Oct. 21.
The students were chosen as the winners of Osceola Lions Club’s 15th annual Peace Poster contest.
The first-place winner was Kathleen Menjivar, who was awarded $40. The second-place winner was Gabe Hatcher, who was awarded $20. The third-place winner was Paul Seuferer, who was awarded $15.
Menjivar’s poster was among more than 375,000 entries submitted worldwide in the 26th annual Lions International Peace Poster contest. The theme was “Our World, Our Future.”
Menjivar will advance to face competition through the 20 counties of Lions District 9SW, and Iowa’s 99 counties multiple districts and international’s rounds of competition if she is to be declared international’s grand-prize winner.
One grand-prize winner and 23 merit-award winners will be selected. The grand prize includes a cash award of $5,000, plus a trip for the winner and two family members to the awards ceremony at Lions Day with the United Nations ceremony to be held March 2014. The date is subject to change.
The 23 merit winners each receive a certificate and cash award of $500.
For the 72-year-old Osceola Lions Club, all students who participated in the contest are winners for expressing their thoughts and ideas about what peace means to them. Lions sponsors the local contest to emphasize the importance of world peace to young people worldwide.
The winning poster is judged for its originality, artistic merit and creativity from the student.
All participants who entered the contest will have their posters on display at Osceola HyVee.
Lions Club International continues to be the world’s largest service organization with 1.35 million members, stressing its efforts toward conquering blindness. It has made commitment to community service and helping the world’s youths.