Seventeen Wasatch Front elementary and secondary students were honored for their winning entries in an art and essay contest during a reception on Thursday, May 12, hosted by the David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies at Brigham Young University.
Finalists, winners, their parents, teachers, administrators and interested community members are invited to attend.
More than 100 students participate in the second annual competition, "U.S./Europe Perspectives," sponsored by the Center for the Study of Europe and International Outreach at BYU.
Students were challenged to cultivate an understanding of the transatlantic relationship, become knowledgeable about important current events and consider developments in the relationship between the United States and Europe, both historically and in the future.
Author and journalist T.R. Reid visited Utah schools to talk about trends in U.S./European relations during his visit to BYU in. Reid told students that "hundreds of students in the middle of a desert interested in learning about European history, politics, language and culture" would astound and impede European stereotypes about the 'Ugly American.'"
Artists in one category (grades 4-6) were given the prompt "Family Dinner in (country name of student's choice)." The first-place winner will receive a $25 cash prize; first runner-up $20; second runner-up $15. The art of all eight finalists will be featured at the Provo Arts Center in June.
Art finalists are ShaNae Foster, 6th grade, Hillcrest Elementary School and Jenifer Bodine, 6th grade; Brooke Broadhead, 5th grade; Josh Hutchings, 4th grade; Dagen Oviatt, 6th grade; Madisson Parker, 4th grade; Tyler Phillips, 4th grade; Halisa Street, 4th grade—all from Meadow Elementary School.
The essay contest featured two categories—Grades 7-9 and Grades 10-12—each with their own essay questions. The first place winners of each category will receive $75 cash prizes; first runners-up $50; second runners-up $35.
Essay 7-9 finalists from West Hills Middle School are Candice Anderson, 9th grade; Victoria Edsall, 9th grade; James Shedden, 9th grade; and from Wasatch Mountain Junior High School are Emily Quinn, 9th grade and Kristopher Powell, 9th grade.
Essay 10-12 finalists Sarah Allen, 10th grade; Jonathan Bean, 10th grade; Amanda Fujiki, 10th grade; and Paul Smith, 10th Grade, are all from Meridian School.
The schools of all finalists will receive a set of the Kennedy Center's CultureGrams for their libraries.
Teachers and students are encouraged to plan ahead for next year's art and essay competition. The topics will be announced at a later date on the CSE Web site.
CSE sponsors workshops, speakers, research, study abroad, community outreach and novel courses with strong European content. They also provide training for BYU students, regional teachers, students at all education levels, businesses, the media and the general public. CSE is funded by a Title VI grant from the U.S. Department of Education.
Additional information may be found online at europe.byu.edu or outreach.byu.edu.
Writer: Lee Simons
