The Loop Newspaper - Tehachapi's Online Community News & Entertainment Guide

Each year, Lions clubs around the world proudly sponsor the Lions International Peace Poster Contest in local schools and youth groups. This art contest for kids encourages young people worldwide to express their visions of peace, tolerance and international understanding. For more than 25 years, millions of children from nearly 100 countries have participated in the contest. The theme of this year's contest is "A Celebration of Peace". Students, ages 11, 12, or 13 by November 15, are eligible to participate. The contest encourages students to think about peace, creatively express what it means to them and to share their own unique visions with the world.

Posters advance through several judging levels: local, district, multiple district and international. At the local level, the poster submission deadline is November 1. The Tehachapi Lions Club will be holding their contest on November 3 at the Tehachapi SENIOR CENTER 6:30 p.m. At the International level, judges from the art, peace, youth, education and media communities select ne grand prize winner and 23 merit award winners. International winners will be notified on or before February 1, 2017. One international grand prize winner will receive $5,000 and a trip to the award ceremony at the International Convention in Chicago, Illinois. Each of the 23 merit award winners will receive a cash award of $500 and a certificate of achievement.

For visually impaired students, the Lions offer the International Essay Contest. The theme is also "A Celebration of Peace". This contest is open to students who are considered visually impaired according to the national guidelines and will be 11, 12, or 13 by November 15. Essays must be no longer than 500 words in length, submitted in English, type-written in black ink and double-spaced. One grand prize winner will receive an award of $5,000.

To find out how you can become involved in the Tehachapi Lions Club's Peace Poster Contest or Essay Contest, please contact Suzanne (661) 822-7583 or Walt (661) 823-1981. For more contest information, deadlines, or to download a video and view past finalists' posters, visit: http://www.lionsclubs.org[search:Peace Poster].