Barbara Lawlor, Nederland.  The Nederland Lions Club hosted the 2015-2016 Peace Poster Contest at the Nederland Middle High School last Wednesday night and 19 students submitted their visual versions of Share Peace, this year’s theme.

Members of the local service club have provided a classy reception for the participants, with refreshments and monetary awards for the top three winners.

Lions Club president Fran Bauer said, “We chose to sponsor this event to give young artists recognition and get them thinking about peace. One of our Nederland students in the past won at the district level and placed at the multi-district level.”

The posters may be created with any media but nothing 3d and no words. First prize is worth $100, second worth $50 and third prize is worth $30.

NMSHS art teacher Theresa Bagby told the students that she was lucky to be in their lives and looks forward every day to coming back to work. “Time went by quickly, you asked awesome questions and were very teachable. You listened and have many skills already. When you hit an artist’s block you worked your way out of it, thought outside the box.”

‘Be proud tonight’ was her advice to the artists.

Each of the students who entered the contest was given the opportunity to explain their creative process and what they meant to convey to the viewer.

When everyone had given their presentation, the awards were presented. Allyssa Janusheske won the first place prize of $100. She said, “The hands holding the heart represent love, loyalty and peace between one  another. The earth with the peace sign shows peace throughout the world and I colored the land on the earth red, yellow, black and green because they are the colors of reggae which reminds me of Jamaica which is filled with peace and love.”

The people shown around the earth are different colors because the colors show that everyone is the same,  and the color of our skin doesn’t make up who we are, that we are all equal, says Allyssa.

The doves represent freedom within our country. The music notes show the peacefulness that music brings to us. The houses and people on the hills show peace because they are all sharing their homes and food with others around them and they are growing crops to feed each other. The rainbow represents gay rights and that shows peace among everyone, says Allyssa.

The second place winner was Abigail and third place winner was Isabella.

Allyssa’s poster will go on to the district competition.