Julia Marin-Gonzalez, a 6th grade student at Mar Vista Elementary School, has taken the first step to becoming an internationally recognized artist by winning a local competition sponsored by the Cabrillo Host Lions Club.
Marin-Gonzalez’s poster was among more than 450,000 entries submitted worldwide in the annual Lions International Peace Poster Contest. Lions Clubs International is sponsoring the program to emphasize the importance of world peace to young people everywhere.
“Peace has no borders”, the 11year-old from Aptos said. The poster was selected by a panel of judges for its originality, artistic merit and portrayal of the contest theme, “Share Peace”. The judging was held on November 12th at the Aptos Village Park, Lions Clubhouse where the Cabrillo Host Lions Club members meet at 6:30 PM on the second and fourth Thursday of every month.
The Cabrillo Host Lions Club President, Barbara Chamberlain, said she was impressed by the expression and creativity of the students at Mar Vista Elementary School. “It is obvious that these young people have strong ideas about what peace means to them. I’m so proud that we were able to provide them with the opportunity to share their visions. Marin-Gonzalez’s poster will advance through the district, multiple district and international levels of competition if she is to be declared the international grand prize winner,” Chamberlain said.
One international grand prizewinner and 23 merit award winners will be selected. The grand prize includes a cash award of US$5,000plus a trip for the winner and two family members to a special award ceremony. The 23 merit award winners will each receive a certificate and a cash award of US$500.
“Our club is cheering for Julia as her poster advances in the competition, and we hope that her vision will ultimately be shared with others around the world,” Chamberlain said. View past international grand prizewinners at www.lionsclubs.org.
Locally, Marin-Gonzalez and seven other students will be honored for their participation by the Cabrillo Host Lions Club on December 12 at 5 p.m. at the “Hawaiian Holiday” Party to be held in the Lions Clubhouse in the Aptos Village Park, 100 Aptos Creek Road in Aptos.
Please contact Joanna Dang at 831-708-2909, Peace Poster Contest Committee Chair to RSVP if you are interested in attending the holiday party or Krista Brassfield, Vice President at 831-331-0432 if you would like to attend Breakfast with Santa on December 5 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
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Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization with more than 1.35 million members in 210 countries and geographical areas around the world. Since 1917, Lions clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired and made a strong commitment to community service and serving youth throughout the world.