Everett stole the show at Malden High Wednesday morning.
Both first place prizes in the annual Teen Perspectives Art & Essay Contest hosted by The Immigrant Learning Center were awarded to Everett students and we had plenty of other recognition from The Immigration Learning Center as well.
Sophomore Shashi Pokhrel won first place for her entry in the contest. Her essay was personal to her experience with immigration and how it contributed to the person she is today. Carolina Rivas, from Everett Alternative High School won first place for her artwork which represented her culture. Sophomore Samira Khobzy was awarded third place for her art work, as well. EHS seniors Elizabeth Landeverde and Allison Acosta got honorable mention. Freshman Susanna Prachi also got honorable mention. A number of EHS students got their work published in Teen Perspective Magazine, which was handed out to all in attendance at the conclusion of the ceremony.
The award ceremony was attended by students from Malden, Medford, and Everett. Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Margaret Adams, was in attendance. Dr. Adams spoke of how impressed she was of the courage from the students to come forward and submit their work. She commended them for being so brave and speaking out when immigration is an extremely controversial subject in the US. The ceremony was also attended by the mayors of Malden and Medford.
During the ceremony, the attendees had the opportunity to walk around and see all the wonderful artwork created by the students who participated. There was an abundance of beautiful, vibrant drawings, each showcasing a glimpse of the artist’s identity and passion for art. The art showcases had blank pieces of paper in front of it so the people walking around could leave sticky-notes for the artists. Every showcase had a plethora of appreciative notes left by attendees that highlighted the most beloved aspects of each drawing.
The award ceremony was full of impressive high schoolers and was a fantastic way to honor their achievements. The ceremony was also a great way to get immigrant voices heard and bring together surrounding cities.
