Alyssa Jaakobs, a seventh-grader in the Hillsborough Middle School, won the local competition in the Peace Poster Contest, sponsored by the Hillsborough-Montgomery Lions Club, in her school.
Alyssa’s poster is among the more than 325,000 entries submitted worldwide in the annual Lions Peace Poster Contest, now in its 15th year.
The theme this year was "Dream of Peace," challenging students to express their feelings and depict their version of world peace, especially in the light of recent international developments.
Out of all the posters created by students in the Hillsborough Middle School, Alyssa’s was judged to have best portrayed the contest’s theme.
Hillsborough-Montgomery Lions Club president Edward Auerbach said he was impressed by the level of effort exhibited by the school.
"It’s obvious that these young people have strong ideas of what peace means," he said. "I am so proud that we were able to provide them with the opportunity to share their vision will all of us."
The poster advances to the next level of competition in Red Bank, where Alyssa’s entry will compete against as many as 46 Lions Clubs in District 16D, where one winner is chosen.
"The Jaakobs poster will face stiff competition in all of the subsequent competitive levels for her to be declared the international grand prize winner," Mr. Auerbach said.
Lions Club International is sponsoring the contest to emphasize the importance of world peace to young people everywhere.
Ultimately, the grand-prize winner will be selected from 24 international finalists. The grand prize includes a cash award of $2,500 plus a trip for the winner and two family members to New York City for the awards ceremony at Lions Day at the United Nations. As merit awards winners, the 23 finalist will each receive certificates and a cash award of $500.
Alyssa was honored at a presentation dinner at Pheasant’s Landing Inn in Hillsborough on Dec. 17.

