March 5, 2009 – Project Safe Neighborhoods informs the public that students throughout the territory will have their artwork displayed Saturday, March 7, at the V.I. Council on the Arts on St. Thomas. At 11:30 a.m., Cheryl Francis will present the three St. Thomas finalists of the "Draw Against Gun Violence II" poster project with a new IPod Touch. The posters will remain on St. Thomas for two weeks, allowing schools in the St. Thomas-St. John District to schedule field trips for viewing. The entire display of 373 entries will then move to St. Croix to the Caribbean Museum for the Arts, where the six finalists from St. Croix will receive their Ipod Touch.
The finalists as well as the first 100 entrants will receive a backpack with the PSN logo. Students in grades 1-12 registered in V.I. schools were eligible to enter. Three winners were chosen in each of three categories: elementary school, grades 1-5; middle school, grades 6-8; and high school, grades 9 to 12. The purpose of the contest was to raise awareness about the impact of gun violence among V.I. youth.
The Finalists Finalists in the elementary school category are Adrianna Bryan of Joseph Sibilly School, Raeniqua Kierra Victorine of Calvary Christian Academy and Mahalia Edwards of Ricardo Richards Elementary.
Finalists in middle school are Shani Isaac of St. Mary's Catholic School, Miguel Comparativo of St. Mary's Catholic School and Lizmarie Cruz of Arthur A. Richards.
Finalists in the high school group are Julia Julien of Good Hope School, Nicole Dickinson of AZ Academy and Anthony S. Walter of Ivanna Eudora Kean.
Judging was based on originality, relevance of the image, message, artistry and overall impact. Judges knew only the category of each entry. Judges included representatives of the St. Thomas-St. John Chamber of Commerce, The American Advertising Federation of the Virgin Islands, Law Enforcement and Project Safe Neighborhoods.
For more information and to view all of the finalist's artwork, go to the Web site
www.drawagainstgunviolence.com
