By Krista Brassfield
Madilyn Pollock, a 7th grader at Aptos Junior High School, won the Peace Poster contest sponsored by the Capitola Coast Lions Club. She’s 12.
Madilyn Pollock with Mike Mansfield, new Aptos Jr. High principal.
Her poster, featuring hands in various shades being grasped in friendship, was selected for its originality, artistic merit and portrayal of the contest theme, “We are all connected.”
As Madilyn put it, “Hope for unity, equality and peace for all.”
Madilyn’s teacher, Lion Kira Martin, encouraged students to enter.
Taylor Leibelt, a student at San Lorenzo Valley Jr. High, won the Peace Essay portion of the contest.
Judging was Nov. 9 at the Capitola City Hall Community Room.
The local entries were among more than 450,000 worldwide in the annual Lions International Peace Poster/Essay Contest.
Capitola Coast Lions Club President Keaven Shine said he was impressed by the expression and creativity of the students.
“It is obvious that these young people have strong ideas about what peace means to them,” he said. “I’m so proud that we were able to provide them with the opportunity to share their visions for peace.”
The Capitola Coast Lions Club, formed in 2020, is open to residents all over Santa Cruz County. Members typically meet on the 2nd Tuesdays of every month.
Lions seek out ways to make a difference and serve their communities in areas of need. Email coastlionsclub@gmail.com if you would like to serve your community in the focus areas of youth, environment, pediatric cancer, vision, hunger, disaster relief, and diabetes. Donate your used eyeglasses, hearing aids, cell phones and laptops to the Lions’ collection box in the lobby of the California Highway Patrol station, 10395 Soquel Drive, Aptos.
For more information, see e-clubhouse.org/site/capitola_coast/.
Madilyn’s peace poster
Madilyn’s poster advanced to the district level of competition where it competed with posters submitted by 45 clubs.
One international 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 an award ceremony at the Lions Clubs International convention in Montreal, Canada, in June 2022. The 23 merit award winners will each receive a certificate and $500.
“We are inspired by both the Peace Poster submitted by Pollack and the Peace Essay written by Leibelt,” Shine said. “We hope that they will both decide to compete again in our local contest next year. In the meantime, we are confident they will continue to share their visions of peace with the world.”
The Multiple District 4 Lions (State of California level) winner will be recognized and presented with a $500 award at the convention in February 2022 in San Diego.
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Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization with 1.35 million members in 210 countries and geographical areas. 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.