Juliette Closson from The French-American School,  Elizabeth Stewart from Hommocks Middle School, Eva Maldari from Rye Neck Middle School, and Grace Bubolz from Saints John & Paul School, have taken the first step to becoming an internationally recognized artist by winning the Larchmont Mamaroneck Lions local competition in the Lions International Peace Poster Contest.

In addition to the winners, the following runners-up received honorable mentions: Olivia Zambrano from Hommocks Middle School, Esther Paquette & Ludivine Bessin from The French American School, Maddie Brauer & Madelynn Marciano from Rye Neck Middle School, and Andrea Zihenni and Alexandra Jordanova from Saints John & Paul School. 

These local winners were announced on November 14 at a special presentation at the Larchmont Village Center.  The event was attended by the students, their families, teachers, and dignitaries & guests. NYS Assemblyman Steve Otis presented certificates to the winners and runners-up in recognition of their accomplishments.  Both NY State Senator Shelley Mayer and County Legislator Catherine Parker also provided certificates.

The Lions International Peace Poster Contest is an annual worldwide competition for children 11-13 asking them to express their vision of world peace through art, based on a particular theme. This year’s theme was Peace Without Limits.

Winners and runners-up from each school were selected by a panel of judges – Carey Federspiel, Lina Pasquale, and Audrey Feller. The winning posters from each school will be entered into the international competition with the international winner announced at the United Nations in the spring.

The success of this contest depends on the support and guidance of the teachers.  The Lions are honored to have worked with Victoria Rolett from the French-American School, Chris Borsari, Hommocks Middle School Principal, Trisha Appel from Rye Neck Middle School, and Angela Howard from Saints John & Paul School.   

The Larchmont Mamaroneck Lions’ mission is to support – with funding, volunteers & advocacy – local service groups by bringing community leaders together to determine needs and resources and to achieve solutions. 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.