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Leesburg student wins local competition in Lions International Peace Poster Contest

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Arica Melson, a 7th grade student at Fairfield Middle School, has taken the first step to becoming an internationally recognized artist by winning a local competition sponsored by the Leesburg Lions Club.
Melson's poster was among more than 350,000 entries submitted worldwide in the annual Lions International Peace Poster Contest. Lions Clubs International is sponsoring the program to emphasize the importance of world peace to young people everywhere.
"Peace is a hard thing to achieve, that's why it takes every person to gain it. One can start it, but it takes us all to achieve it," the 13-year-old from Leesburg said. The poster was selected by the Leesburg Lions for its originality, artistic merit and portrayal of the contest theme, "Power of Peace."
Leesburg Lions Club President Georgia Barber said she was impressed by the expression and creativity of the students of Mrs. Roberts' Art Classes. There were 54 students who participated in the contest.  Other poster winners were 1st Lillian Collins, 2nd Camille Burgess, 3rd Sarah Buddelmeyer, and honorable mention was awarded to Ashley Niedich, Grace Shaffer and Seth Allen's posters.
"Arica Melson's poster will advance through the district, multiple district and international levels of competition if she is to be declared the international grand prize winner," Barber said.
One international grand prize winner and 23 merit award winners will be selected. The grand prize includes a cash award of $2,500 plus a trip for the winner and two family members to an awards ceremony at Lions Day with the United Nations. The 23 merit award winners will each receive a certificate and a cash award of $500.
"Our club is cheering for Arica as her poster advances in the competition, and we hope that her vision will ultimately be shared with others around the world," Barber said.
Locally, Melson and the six other students will be honored for their participation by the Leesburg Lions Club on January 18th at Leesburg Lions monthly meeting held at the Leesburg Methodist Church.
View past international grand prize winners at www.lionsclubs.org.  Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization with more than 1.3 million members in approximately 45,000 clubs in 205 countries and geographical areas around the world. Since 1917, Lions clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired and made a strong commitment to community service and serving youth throughout the world.
Arica Melson, a 7th grade student at Fairfield Middle School, has taken the first step to becoming an internationally recognized artist by winning a local competition sponsored by the Leesburg Lions Club.
Melson's poster was among more than 350,000 entries submitted worldwide in the annual Lions International Peace Poster Contest. Lions Clubs International is sponsoring the program to emphasize the importance of world peace to young people everywhere.
"Peace is a hard thing to achieve, that's why it takes every person to gain it. One can start it, but it takes us all to achieve it," the 13-year-old from Leesburg said. The poster was selected by the Leesburg Lions for its originality, artistic merit and portrayal of the contest theme, "Power of Peace."
Leesburg Lions Club President Georgia Barber said she was impressed by the expression and creativity of the students of Mrs. Roberts' Art Classes. There were 54 students who participated in the contest.  Other poster winners were 1st Lillian Collins, 2nd Camille Burgess, 3rd Sarah Buddelmeyer, and honorable mention was awarded to Ashley Niedich, Grace Shaffer and Seth Allen's posters.
"Arica Melson's poster will advance through the district, multiple district and international levels of competition if she is to be declared the international grand prize winner," Barber said.
One international grand prize winner and 23 merit award winners will be selected. The grand prize includes a cash award of $2,500 plus a trip for the winner and two family members to an awards ceremony at Lions Day with the United Nations. The 23 merit award winners will each receive a certificate and a cash award of $500.
"Our club is cheering for Arica as her poster advances in the competition, and we hope that her vision will ultimately be shared with others around the world," Barber said.
Locally, Melson and the six other students will be honored for their participation by the Leesburg Lions Club on January 18th at Leesburg Lions monthly meeting held at the Leesburg Methodist Church.
View past international grand prize winners at www.lionsclubs.org.  Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization with more than 1.3 million members in approximately 45,000 clubs in 205 countries and geographical areas around the world. Since 1917, Lions clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired and made a strong commitment to community service and serving youth throughout the world.
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