MUSCATINE, Iowa–For more than 30 years, Lions International has promoted peace through art. Each year, their Peace Poster Contest celebrates the work of young artists ages 11 through 13 that depict a specific theme relating to peace. Not long after the Muscatine Lions Club formed in 2003, they started holding their own local Peace Poster Contest that sends winners on to the district level of competition. This year, the Muscatine Lions Club honored five students for their outstanding posters illustrating the theme, lead with compassion.
This year, students at both Saints Mary and Mathias Catholic School and the Salvation Army of Muscatine County’s afterschool program entered the contest. As in years past, Mary Alice Sessler, a retired art teacher, helped students get involved in the contest. After reviewing the submissions, the Lions Club named five winners, Eva Kurriger from Saints Mary and Mathias and Holly Burger in the Salvation Army afterschool program in first place, Rosalie Duclee in the afterschool program in second place, and Abby Hinnenkamp and Cadence Peterson in the after school program in third place. Each of the winners received a monetary prize for their work. The two first place winners also had their posters sent to the district contest, where they have the opportunity to continue on to state and national contests, winning additional prizes and recognition.
Holly designed a poster that depicts two pairs of friends comforting each other as well as of a girl holding an umbrella over a cat to keep it dry in the rain, showing the simple ways that people can bring kindness to others. Holly shared, “it feels pretty good because I don’t usually win first place in a lot of things, so it feels good to have my art recognized.”
Over the past several years, Eva has won the Peace Poster Contest twice as well as having her entries into the Junior Duck Stamp Contest recognized. This year, she created an image of people from all different countries and cultures marching behind a woman bearing a peace flag. She said that her win made her, “feel good and excited.”
This year, Muscatine Lion’s Club President Jim Bixler presented the awards to the five students. He welcomed the opportunity to continue this longstanding tradition and to celebrate the work of these young artists. “It’s a great thing,” he said. “It give them an opportunity to think about peace.”
Along with holding the annual Peace Poster Contest, the Muscatine Lions Club works on a variety of different good causes, including providing magnified reading devices to people who need them, holding an annual soup supper fundraiser, and volunteering for many local causes. This year, they hope to continue efforts begun last year at the district level to raise money to help children with cancer and to support pediatric cancer research. Last year’s district efforts included projects such as selling shirts to raise funds, collecting pop tops to support Ronald McDonald House, and having a childhood cancer fundraiser and awareness night at a Cedar Rapids Kernels game. As the year progresses, they will share plans for local efforts as well.
