A student from Kay Pace School of the Arts in Clayton County has won the first place in the Georgia Lions Peace Poster Contest. Her poster, titled “Peace is in Our Hands”, depicts a colorful globe surrounded by hands of different races and cultures. She will receive a $100 cash prize and a certificate of achievement for her artistic talent and message of peace.
The Peace Poster Contest
The Peace Poster Contest is an annual event organized by Lions Clubs International, a global service organization that aims to empower volunteers to serve their communities and promote peace and understanding. The contest invites students aged 11 to 13 from around the world to express their vision of peace through art. The theme for this year’s contest was “We Are All Connected”.
According to the Lions Clubs International website, more than 600,000 students from 75 countries participated in the contest this year. The posters were judged at the local, district, multiple district and international levels. The international grand prize winner was Anja Rožen, a 13-year-old girl from Slovenia, who received a $5,000 cash prize and a trip to New York City to attend the Lions Day with the United Nations.
The Winning Poster from Georgia
The winning poster from Georgia was created by Nia Johnson, a seventh-grader from Kay Pace School of the Arts. Nia said she was inspired by the theme of the contest and wanted to show how people can work together to create a peaceful world. She used acrylic paint and markers to create her poster, which took her about two weeks to complete.
“I wanted to show that peace is in our hands and that we can make a difference by being kind and respectful to each other,” Nia said. “We are all connected by the earth and we should take care of it and each other.”
Nia’s poster was selected as the best among 12 district winners in Georgia by a panel of judges that included artists, educators and Lions club members. She was honored at a ceremony held at the Georgia Lions Lighthouse Foundation in Chamblee on January 29, 2023. She also received a congratulatory letter from Governor Brian Kemp, who praised her for her creativity and commitment to peace.
“Nia’s poster is a beautiful representation of the theme ‘We Are All Connected’ and a testament to her artistic skills and vision,” Kemp wrote. “She has made Georgia proud and I commend her for her achievement.”
The Future Plans of the Young Artist
Nia said she was surprised and happy to win the contest and thanked her art teacher, Ms. Jones, for encouraging her to participate. She said she enjoys drawing, painting and sculpting and hopes to pursue a career in art or animation. She also said she wants to continue to spread the message of peace through her art.
“I think peace is important because without it, there would be a lot of chaos and violence in the world,” Nia said. “I hope my poster can inspire people to be more peaceful and to appreciate the diversity and beauty of the world.”
