LM Lions '23-'24 Peace Poster Contest Winners Unveiled

LARCHMONT/MAMARONECK, NY — Fortune tellers will almost always disappoint — if you want a clear picture of how the future will unfold, just look to the next generation.

In this case, the future looks mighty hopeful indeed.

The Larchmont Mamaroneck Lions announced that several area students have taken the first step to becoming an internationally recognized artist by winning the Lions International Peace Poster Contest.

Zelie Boudaliez from The French-American School, Avery O’Meara from Rye Neck Middle School and Lena Norville from Saints John & Paul School have won awards.

The following runners up received honorable mentions: Sonya Huang & Hana Ponikvar from The French American School, Runa Aoki & Avrie Treiber from Rye Neck Middle School and David Alvarez & Rafael Tsuji-Giralt from Saints John & Paul School.

The local winners were announced on November 16, at a special presentation at the Larchmont Library. The event was attended by the students, their families, teachers, dignitaries and guests.

County Legislator Catherine Parker presented certificates to the winners and runners up in recognition of their accomplishments. Both NY State Senator Shelley Mayer and Assemblyman Steve Otis also presented certificates to the winners.

The Lions International Peace Poster Contest is an annual worldwide competition for children 11-13, encouraging them to express their vision of world peace through art, based on a particular theme. This year’s theme was "Dare to Dream."

Winners and runners up were selected by a panel of local artists, Toni Brackis, Carey Federspiel and Laura Saravia. The winning posters will advance through the district into the international competition, with the International winner announced at a United Nations event in the spring.

The Lions said they are honored to have again worked with Victoria Rolett from the French-American School, Trisha Appel from Rye Neck Middle School and Angela Howard-Rude from Saints John & Paul School in their efforts to bring this contest to the community and provide these students with the opportunity to share their visions of peace.

The Larchmont Mamaroneck Lions, celebrating their Centennial, focus on supporting existing non-profit and community service groups by bringing community service leaders together to determine needs, solutions and resources. The LM Lions are part of Lions Clubs International, the world’s largest service organization of over 1.4 million members. The Lions signature cause is Vision/Blindness, along with Hunger, the Environment, Diabetes, Childhood Cancer and the future of our Youth. They are signatories of the United Nations resolutions on women’s and refugee rights, and are currently active in Afghanistan & Ukrainian refugee resettlement. In addition, affordable housing is a local Lions priority.