The City of Santa Monica’s Office of Sustainability and the Environment, the Santa Monica Disabilities Commission and Sustainable Works partnered to host the 5th annual Sustainable Santa Monica Student Poster Contest.
This year’s theme focused on disabilities awareness and accessibility. Students were challenged to express their ideas through art by answering the question, “how do people with disabilities access and enjoy nature in Santa Monica with their family and friends?”
The contest was open to all K-12 students that attend school in Santa Monica; close to 300 entries were submitted this year and approximately, 2,400 students have participated in the contest since its inception.
The contest gets everyone excited for the arts and the environment, and this year was no exception. Students were introduced to issues regarding access to public and open spaces – how all individuals require access for us to become a sustainable community.
“The contest holds a unique opportunity for us to highlight elements of the Sustainable City Plan while educating students and supporting the arts,” said Shannon Parry, assistant director of the Office of Sustainability and the Environment. “We plant a seed for our future leaders, plus have a lot of fun.”
The winning student entries:
K-2nd grade
Grand Prize: Raeva Vasisht, Grant Elementary, 2nd Grade
Runner Up: Lia Levin, Will Rogers Elementary, 1st Grade
Honorable Mention: Ellenor Brandt, Grant Elementary, 2nd
Grade
3-5th grade
Grand Prize: Vannessa Lin, Roosevelt, 5th Grade
Runner Up: Olivier Tetsu Velde, Lycee Francais de Los
Angeles, 5th Grade
Honorable Mention: Sage Singh, Grant Elementary, 4th Grade
6-8th grade
Grand Prize: Maya Goren, John Adams Middle School, 6th Grade
Runner Up: Alyssa Tohyama, Lincoln Middle School, 7th Grade
Honorable Mention: Tahsin Thaver, Lincoln Middle School, 7th
Grade
Honorable Mention: Livy Larson, Lincoln Middle School, 7th
Grade
9-12th grade
Grand Prize: Natthavadee Laoharangsima, Santa Monica High
School, 9th Grade
Runner Up: Elsa Lopez, Santa Monica High School, 9th Grade
“The Disabilities Commission is proud to partner with the City’s efforts in sustainability. This poster contest creates an awareness of the kinds of accommodations individuals with disabilities may need – but it’s exciting to see the students’ submissions because they are frequently creative in ways we never could have anticipated. And that creativity suggests sustainable accommodations that ensure individuals with disabilities are fully included in their communities,” Christopher Arroyo, Santa Monica Disabilities Commission Chair, said.
Winning students and all participating students were honored at an awards ceremony and celebration hosted by the Annenberg Community Beach House. Winning student entries were on display in City Hall during the first few weeks of May 2013.
