AMITYVILLE, NY — More than 60 students at St. Rose of Lima School participated in a Veterans Day art contest sponsored by an Amityville law firm, with 10 students selected as winners for their patriotic creations.
The Law Office of Alena Shautsova, located at 159 Broadway in Amityville, organized the competition to encourage students to honor military veterans through artwork reflecting themes of patriotism, freedom, sacrifice and gratitude.
The contest, which ran from Oct. 13 through Oct. 30, was open to students in all grades at the Massapequa school.
Students submitted original artwork featuring American flags, bald eagles, military personnel, patriotic symbols and messages thanking veterans for their service.
The competition offered 10 prizes, including a $250 grand prize, $100 each for second and third place, and $50 each for fourth through 10th place. St. Rose of Lima School was responsible for judging the submissions and selecting the winners.
Shautsova announced that more than 60 children participated and shared photographs of the students' artwork ahead of Veterans Day.
The original artwork will be displayed at the Law Office of Alena Shautsova, 159 Broadway, Amityville, allowing community members to see the students' tributes.
Shautsova previously said she was inspired to organize the contest after participating in similar projects through a bar association initiative. After moving to Copiague, she noticed that comparable opportunities were not being offered to children in her community.
With her own children attending St. Rose of Lima School, Shautsova decided to launch the initiative there, hoping to encourage students to learn about military service while expressing their appreciation through art.
"Since my children attend St. Rose of Lima School, I decided to launch this initiative there," Shautsova said. "I hope it will become a meaningful tradition that brings our community together and inspires children to learn more about the sacrifices made by our veterans."
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Lindenhurst Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.