Minuteman High School student Zach Olden gets award for poster

PHOTO CAPTION: Minuteman Superintendent-Director Dr. Edward A. Bouquillon, Zach's parents Jeff and Connie Olden, Zach Olden and MPY Executive Director Margie Daniels. Photo by Maria Galante.

By Judy Bass

LEXINGTON – Zachary “Zach” Olden, a junior at Minuteman High School, has won an honorable mention in the annual poster contest sponsored by Middlesex Partnerships for Youth (MPY), a non-profit 501 c(3) organization that promotes health and safety for young people throughout Middlesex County.

According to the organization’s web site, the annual Poster Project, sponsored by Middlesex District Attorney Marian Ryan and MPY, “encourages students to create a poster that shares a positive message for middle and high school students across Middlesex County.”

Mr. Olden, of Acton, is majoring in Design and Visual Communications at Minuteman. His instructor is Maria Galante.

He discussed the way his poster illustrates the theme of the contest, which was “Be the Change.”

“I wanted to create a poster that helped people understand the importance of equality for everyone,” noted Mr. Olden. “It shows the theme of the contest by showing that in today’s society, everyone is unique and different and we should accept those differences.”

He created a strikingly simple yet powerful image that emphasizes inclusion and open-mindedness. It features a silhouette of someone’s head depicted in hues of beige, tan and brown against a background of rainbow-colored horizontal stripes

“Students were asked to create an original poster which illustrated ways to make schools and communities safer places to live and learn,” said MPY Executive Director Margie Daniels. “Zach’s poster succinctly stated: ‘Accept Equality, Accept Humanity.’ These phrases indicated showing respect for all, including those who are different from you. In addition to the clear message, the judges liked the stark images and the bright colors. This poster will display well on school walls.”

Mr. Olden was presented with his award by Ms. Daniels during the Minuteman School Committee meeting on May 15. His parents, Jeff and Connie Olden, were present.

Minuteman was established in the 1970s as one of more than two dozen regional-vocational technical high schools in Massachusetts. Over the years, the school has built a reputation for excellence. Minuteman students consistently excel on the larger stage and have won numerous awards at state and national competitions. Minuteman challenges all students to revolutionize their high school expectations by aspiring to their full potential, accelerating their learning, and achieving success in the 21st-century global community.