The Marlboro-Milton Lions Club gave a presentation at last week’s Marlboro School Board meeting to honor students who participated in their International Peace Poster Contest. Ella Loupe was voted the winner of this year’s contest. Six other students received Honorable Mention: Adeline Appler, Gregory Artero, Ellie Bogaczyk, Kimberly Luis, Kara Morehead and Alyssa Scaturro.

The following also received Honorable Mention but were unable to attend the meeting: Salewa Baker, Lauren Breary, Kennedy Guadagno, Joshua Martinez, Isabella Parise and Gibson Roy.

School Board President and Lions Club member Frank Milazzo coordinated the poster contest for the club. He said the Lions Club sponsors this annual event for Middle School students and this year’s theme was ‘Dare to Dream.’

“To a young person a dream isn’t just a wish, hope or desire, it’s a path, a goal, an ambition but achieving that dream takes hard work,” Milazzo said. “So this year we’re asking young people to show how they’ll turn their dream of a peaceful world into reality.”
At the beginning of the school year, through the Art class, and with the help of the Middle school, 13 students decided to participate.

“Ella and every other Lion’s Club member then goes to the conference and the same thing happens,” Milazzo said. “Unfortunately our person didn’t make it to the next step, but we have a winner from the club who went to that point. It’s a great program and it’s great to see everybody involved.”

Milazzo urged these students to consider getting involved with the ‘Leo Club’ when they get to the high school, “because it’s all about community service and giving back.”

Lions Club President Jerry Wein thanked all of the students for participating in the poster contest.

“It’s really nice work and it’s a great subject these days, so peace to everybody and congratulations to all,” he said.

In a subsequent interview, Wein said this contest, “gets kids thinking and dreaming about peace when there is so much turmoil going on these days.”

Wein said the art work the students submitted was ‘wonderful’.

“It’s great to see how creative they are and how they express it,” he said.

The School Board presented Middle School Principal Debra Clinton with a Certificate of Appreciation for her school’s support and participation in the poster contest.