Minden student wins peace poster contest

Staff Reports

Wenny Lu, a sixth-grade student at Pinon Hills Elementary School, won the Carson Valley Lion's Club poster contest, and will be entered in the state contest.

Wenny's poster is among more than 375,000 entries submitted worldwide in the 22nd annual Lions International Peace Poster Contest emphasizing the importance of world peace to young people everywhere.

"The world will be filled with peace when we all love each other and join together to solve problems," Wenny said. Her poster was selected by the Carson Valley Lions Club for its originality, artistic merit and portrayal of the contest theme, "Vision of Peace." Judging was Nov. 3 at Sharkey's Casino.

"It is obvious that these young people have strong ideas about what peace means to them. I'm so proud we were able to provide the opportunity to share their visions," said Carson Valley Lions Club President Barry Jones. "Our club is cheering for Wenny as her poster advances in the competition, and we hope that her vision will ultimately be shared with others around the world."

Jessica Withrow from Gardnerville Elementary School and Kassidy Ward from Scarselli Elementary School were among the top three winners.

One grand prize winner and 23 merit award winners will be selected at the international level. The grand prize is a cash award of $2,500 and a trip for the winner and two family members to New York City for the awards ceremony at Lions Day with the United Nations. Merit award winners each receive certificates and cash awards of $500.

Carson Valley Lion's Club sponsors the Peace Poster contest each fall, which is open to 11-13 year-old students in Douglas County.

Poster contest chair Linda Hiebert Sekiguchi thanks teachers Meredith Swanson-Jessup of Gardnerville Elementary School, John Van Pelt from Pinon Hills Elementary and Mary Stoll from Scarselli Elementary for encouraging students to enter the contest.

View international grand prize and merit award winners at www.lionsclubs.org