The photo shows the winning students in the front row:

Sami Pyne, 7th grade First place winner $200.00
Clarissa Pawlica, 8th grade Second place winner $100.00
Michael Slattery, 8th grade Third place winner $50.00
Katie Cummins, 8th grade Honorable mention

Rear row: Contest judges, Anna Verdick, Ann Holt, Barbara Chadwick
Gayle Middle School art teacher, Cathy Herndon, Lion Peggy Chance, Lion Art Gabler, Mr. Don Upperco, school principal.

For Immediate Release

"SAMI” PYNE WINS LOCAL COMPETITION IN LIONS INTERNATIONAL PEACE POSTER CONTEST

Stafford County, VA -- Samantha “Sami” Nicole Pyne, a 7th grade student at T. Benton Gayle Middle School, has taken the first step to becoming an internationally recognized artist by winning a local competition sponsored by the Greater Falls Run Lions Club.

Pyne’s poster was among more than 350,000 entries submitted worldwide in the annual Lions International Peace Poster Contest. Lions Clubs International is sponsoring the program to emphasize the importance of world peace to young people everywhere. 30 students entered posters at Gayle Middle School.

“The white dove and olive branch are symbols for worldwide peace and that’s what I used for my inspiration,” the 12-year-old from Falmouth said. The poster was judged by local artists/instructors; Ann Holt, Anna Verdick, Barbara Chadwick and Lion Peggy Chance, contest chairwoman. It was chosen for its originality, artistic merit and portrayal of the contest theme, “Peace Around the World.” The judging was held on October 19th at the residence of Lion Peggy Chance.

Greater Falls Run Lions Club President Art Gabler said he was impressed by the expression and creativity of the students at Gayle Middle School. “It is obvious that these young people have strong ideas about what peace means to them. I’m so proud that we were able to provide them with the opportunity to share their visions.”

“Pyne’s poster will advance through the district, multiple district and international levels of competition if she is to be declared the international grand prize winner,” Gabler said. She received $200.00 from the Greater Falls Run Lions Club as first prize winner.

One international grand prize winner and 23 merit award winners will be selected. The grand prize includes a cash award of $2,500, plus a trip for the winner and two family members to New York City for the awards ceremony at Lions Day with the United Nations. The 23 merit award winners will each receive a certificate and a cash award of $500.

“Our club is cheering for Sami as her poster advances in the competition, and we hope that her vision will ultimately be shared with others around the world,” Gabler said.

Locally, Pyne and 3 other students were honored for their participation by the Greater Falls Run Lions Club on Nov. 13 at Gayle Middle School. (photo attached) Second prize ($100.00) went to Clarissa Pawlica, 8th grade, third prize ($50.00) to Michael Slattery, 8th grade, and Katie Cummins, 8th grade, received honorable mention.

View past international grand prize winners at www.lionsclubs.org. Lions Clubs International is the world’s largest service club organization with nearly 1.3 million members in approximately 45,000 clubs in 200 countries and geographical areas around the world. Since 1917, Lions clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired and made a strong commitment to community service and serving youth throughout the world.

For further information contact Lion Jim Purton, Publicity Chairman 540-368-2960.