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. This year will be the 30th year of the Lions Peace Poster Contest. Millions of children from nearly 100 countries have participated in the contest over the years. The theme of this year's contest is "The Future of Peace". Students, ages 11, 12, or 13 by Nov. 15, 2017 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 Oct. 30. The Tehachapi Lions Club will be holding their contest on Nov. 2 at the Tehachapi SENIOR CENTER 6:30 p.m. At the international level, judges from the art, peace, youth, education and media communities select one grand prize winner and 23 merit award winners. International winners will be notified on or before Feb. 1, 2018. One international grand prize winner will receive $5,000 and a trip to the award ceremony at the Lions International Convention in Las Vegas, NV. 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 "The Future of Peace". This contest is open to students who are considered visually impaired according to national guidelines and will be 11, 12, or 13 by Nov. 15, 2017. 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. For more contest information, deadlines, or to download a video and view past finalists' posters, visit: http://www.lionsclubs.org (search: Peace Poster).