WELLINGTON ROTARY CLUB BREAKS RECORD WITH ITS SCHOOLS PEACE INITIATIVE CONTESTS
The Wellington Rotary Club again sponsored various contests as part of its Annual Peace Initiative Program. Schools throughout the community participated during April and May in poster, poetry and essay contests. The involvement of the Wellington school children was tremendous and broke all previous records for submissions. The object, in all cases, was to present a view of conflict resolution and multicultural understanding aimed at the promotion of world peace and understanding.
The winners have been announced. The Peace Poster competition for all fourth graders proved to be a close decision as there were many wonderful posters from all of the contestants. This year’s competition attracted over 340 submissions. Wellington’s elementary schools participated for a prize of $50 to each schools winning student, as well as a $50 prize to the class room teacher of each winning student. An overall winner from all of the finalists was chosen and will receive a $75 check.
The poster prize winners were: Equestrian Trails. Kaleb Martinez. Student. Mrs. Manzella. Teacher. Elbridge Gale. Shannon Sawyerr. Student. Mrs. Tobin. Teacher ;
Panther Run. Sophia Lorello. Student. Mrs. Culp. Teacher; Binks Forest. Julia Wortman. Student. Mrs. Carney. Teacher. All will receive a $50 prize.
The overall winner was from New Horizons. Veronica Garcia-Parra will receive a $75 prize. Her teacher is Mrs. McCloud who will receive $50 prize.
The overall winning poster will also be used as part of the Rotary Club’s advertising campaign.
The club also received poems from the Middle Schools. The winners were, Emerald Cove Middle School. Judy Yang and Wellington Landings Middle School, Natalie Gomez. Both captured the spirit of the peace initiative. A special thank you also to their teachers Amy Yuzanas and Kerry Emery. A prize of $75 is awarded to each student.
The theme of the essay competition for high school students was based upon the words of the Dalai Lama. “Peace can only last where human rights are respected, where the people are fed, and where individuals and nations are free.”
The winners of this competition were. Tyler Bergman of Wellington Community High School and Kayla Goldstein of Palm Beach Central High School. Thank you to their teachers Ms. Cooperman and Ms Ostaffe for their work in guiding the students. Both students will receive a $100 prize.
All of the winners will receive their prizes at the UN Peace Day ceremony at the Wellington Rotary Peace Park on Royal Fern Drive at 6pm on September 21st. The Rotary wish to invite all of the winners, their teachers and families, to attend the celebration.
The Rotary Club congratulates all the students and teachers who participated and thanks the volunteers from the Wellington Rotary who liaised with the schools.
The Rotary Club and the Village of Wellington look forward to seeing everyone at the ceremony on September 21st.
For further information contact: Larry Kemp
Peace Initiative Co-Chair
Wellington Rotary.