A poster designed by Elaina Phillips, an eighth-grade student at the Cranbury School won honorable mention at the Lions Club International District 16-J meeting Nov. 7 at Costa’s Restaurant in Roselle Park.
Her poster was among more than 600,000 entries submitted worldwide in the 30th annual Lions International Peace Poster Contest. Lions Clubs International sponsors the contest to emphasize the importance of world peace to young people everywhere. Elaina advanced to the district level of the international competition after winning a local competition sponsored by the Cranbury Lions Club.
There were 10 other clubs submitting entries as well. The posters were selected for originality, artistic merit and portrayal of the contest theme, “A Celebration of Peace.” This year’s theme is most appropriate since 2017 is the Centennial Year of Lions Clubs International.
“I used people from diverse backgrounds and age around the world coming together to celebrate,” said Elaina, 13. Her poster portrayed people of different backgrounds including a person in a wheel chair following a dove to celebrate peace.
Cranbury Lions Club Peace Poster Chair, Fay Kobland said that she was impressed by the expression and creativity of the students at the Cranbury 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,” said Ms. Kobland.
Cranbury School art teacher Stacey Crannage guided the students through the process of creating the posters by offering a club during the lunch-recess time several days a week.
“The posters faced stiff competition in their quest through the District 16-J, Multiple District 16-New Jersey, and international rounds of competition,” said Ms. Kobland. “The Cranbury Lions are grateful that the Cranbury School participates in the Peace Poster competition each year.”
Eight students that participated in the Peace Poster competition this year. In addition the Cranbury Lions awarded honorable mention second place to Nimila Sivkumar and third place to Faria Majeed.
The Lions will honor the award-winners at their meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 7, at Teddy’s Restaurant. Families of the award winners are invited to attend. Each winner will receive a certificate and monetary award from the Cranbury Lions.
One grand prizewinner 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.
Traditionally the grand prizewinner is also honored at the Lions International Convention, which will be held this year the last week of June in Chicago. The 23 merit award winners will each receive a certificate and a cash award of $500.
The Peace Poster Competition is just one of many programs the Cranbury Lions have for service to youth. Other youth programs involve sponsoring the Jamesburg Leo Club at the New Jersey Training School, Pumpkin Carving Halloween activity, four scholarships and one community service award as well as donations to the Cranbury girl and boy scouts. In addition the Cranbury Lions Club provides assistance to other organizations like camp experiences for children with disabilities, blindness or illnesses.
Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization with 1.4 million members in more than 46,000 clubs in 210 countries and geographic areas. In addition to its efforts toward conquering blindness, the organization has made a strong commitment to community service and helping youth throughout the world.
