Climate change art competition at KDHS

By Mark Ribble

KINGSVILLE — The Kingsville Lions Club, in partnership with Kingsville District High School, recently organized and launched a competition for students in Grades 9 through 12.

The Action for Climate Empowerment (ACE) Art Competition was held over the course of the past several weeks and students were tasked with creating artwork to help bring awareness to the environment.

Cash prizes were given to six award winners with the top prize for Grand Champion being $1,000. Over 160 students participated in the competition, with local artist Ronald Suchiu judging the competition.

EMMA LEBRUN

The awards were presented on Earth Day — Friday, April 22 — at KDHS with students, teachers, parents and grandparents joining the Lions Club on the front lawn.

Joan Cope of the Lions Club acted as emcee for the awards event. She is a member of the Lions Club’s environment committee, which came up with the idea and approached KDHS Department Head for Arts and Humanities, Christine Goodchild.

The response, according to Joan, was sensational and the students took to the climate themed competition with great enthusiasm.

“We were blown away by your talent,” she said to the students.

“Smart people are doing incredible things to help the environment,” added Christine Goodchild. “We’re taking care of this earth for our future.”

Joan Pope, left, with Grand Champion Madeline Waldon, first runner-up Vanessa Andrade, second runner-up Lily Holmes and KDHS Department Head Christine Goodchild.

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Student Emma LeBrun gave a passionate speech about the current generation taking care of the earth going forward.

“There are a ton of little things we can change on a daily basis that can change the world,” said Emma. “We are the generation that needs to fix it.”

With that, the awards were handed out for the artwork, along with cheques and gift bags to go along with them.

Honourable mention winners, from left, were Olivia Gabriele, Grace Anzovino and Felicia Vickesy.

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Three honourable mention prizes were given to Felicia Vickesy (Gr. 10), Grace Anzovino (Gr. 10) and Olivia Gabriele (Gr. 11), who also each took home $300.

Second Runner-Up award went to Lily Holmes (Gr. 10) for her art, ‘Time is Ticking’. Lily also received a $500 cheque.

First Runner-Up went to Vanessa Andrade (Gr. 11) for ‘Save the Trees, Save the World’. Vanessa also received a cheque for $500.

The Grand Champion award was presented to Madeline Waldon (Gr. 12) for ‘Food Please’. Madeline’s cheque was for $1,000.

To close off the ceremony, Lions Club member Joe Gibson relayed a message from local artist and judge Ron Suchiu, who was unable to make it. He announced that Ron was moved to tears by the artwork and has offered to frame each of the winning pieces at his studio.