Earlier this year,sixth-grader Jamie Gutierrer-Nicholas took some initiative.

An art entry work entry of hers in the Columbia Lions Club International Peace Poster Contest won awards at the local and regional level.

“The poster was on how everyone is the same.. People are of different colors but they are not all always treated the same. It showed how different colors create one puzzle,” Nicholas said.

Nicholas worked on the project in connection with one of Ms. Jeanne LaPlante’s art classes.

“She was worked after school which is commendable. It was not a project I did with the students. It was whoever wanted to do the contest I would work with them after school,” said LaPlante.

Nicholas and LaPlante worked on the project three or four times after school.

LaPlante said she tries to do the contest every year.

“Jamie is the first that has gone beyond the local level of competition,” she said.

Locally the competition was between three girls. Regionally, her entry was submitted to the Lions Club District 31-J (19 counties of northeastern North Carolina) and deemed the winner

Nicholas said she liked doing the contest.

“I like doing art. I do it when I am bored,” she said.

The making of the poster involved the application of a lot of acrylic paint, brushes, and markers.